COVID-19: Complete lockdown most likely now in Maharashtra

A crowd at a vegetable market in Dadar West. Pic/Suresh Karkera

As the current restrictions have not yielded the expected results, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is expected to announce a total lockdown in Maharashtra from Wednesday. The state cabinet took the decision on Tuesday during its weekly meeting when all the ministers insisted on imposing a total lockdown without any delay.

A crowded street at Nul Bazaar on Tuesday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

After the cabinet meeting, state health minister Rajesh Tope said all ministers have urged CM Thackeray to announce a decision to impose a blanket lockdown from Wednesday itself because the restrictions imposed last week haven't been effective in arresting the spread COVID. Ironically, the ministers had last week opposed the CM's stand of a blanket lockdown. "The CM will be making an announcement on a complete lockdown," said Tope.

The cabinet was given a presentation on the infection spike that is becoming difficult to handle for want of medicines, beds and oxygen. The guardian ministers pointed to the utter disregard of the public to restrictions imposed.

Parliamentary affairs minister Anil Parab also said that the CM would make an announcement on Wednesday after giving each aspect a serious thought. Earlier in the day, the government took a step towards the lockdown by capping the timing of essential commodity shops to just four hours -- between 7 am and 11 am.

Tope said, "We haven't been using the term ‘lockdown' to describe restrictions that were imposed last week. But today, all of us felt that a complete lockdown was necessary to control the spread of infection." Public transport for essential workers and other essential necessities will be allowed, he added. "The government will also think for the workforce who will be affected by the lockdown."

Four-hour window for essential shops

All grocery shops, vegetable, fruit vendors, dairies, bakeries, all type of food shops, (including meat, fish and eggs), shops related to agricultural implements and farm produce, pet food shops, shops selling materials for rainy season will be open only between 7 am and 11 am.

Home delivery by the abovementioned shops, however, will be allowed between 7 am and 8 pm. Local authorities may change the timings.

Local disaster management authorities can include any additional entities/services as essential only after the consent of the State Disaster Management Authority.

The new directives come into force from 8 pm on Tuesday till 7 am on May 1. But the curbs are subject to amendment in case a total lockdown.

11 am
Time till when shops can stay open