Amid a rise in the Omicron cases in Maharashtra, state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar while speaking in the House today, December 23, appealed to the members to take the pandemic situation more seriously in order to avoid another lockdown.
"We need to take things seriously. We don't want a lockdown again. We request everyone in the House also to please wear a mask. I request Opposition leaders to speak responsibly on this issue," Pawar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
He also urged members to abide by the COVID-19 norms by wearing their masks and directed them to speak responsibly on the issue.
Also Read: Omicron Scare: BMC issues fresh guidelines ahead of festivity - Read here
“We represent millions of people. The Centre has asked states to impose night curfew and strictly regulate large gatherings. Except for certain people, no one wears a mask. The whole of Maharashtra is watching what is going on here," Pawar added.
His statement came days after the Central Health Ministry wrote a letter to the states to put in place restrictions that include night curfews as well as proclaiming containment zones if districts have a 10 per cent positivity rate or ICU surges or occupancy in oxygen-supported to 40 per cent.
Moreover, on Wednesday, December 22, State school Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said that schools in the state may shut down if the number of patients infected with the latest strain continue to increase.
According to reports, on Tuesday, December 21, 11 additional cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 were confirmed in the state. This took the aggregate tally to 65 in Maharashtra. Accounts stated that those affected include an 11-month-old girl and a six-year-old boy from Mumbai.
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