In his address to the state today evening, Maharashtra Chief Minister announced a 15-day complete lockdown in the state from April 14 evening till May 1 morning. Calling it a Junta Curfew, Thackeray said the same will be applicable for the next 15 days. Section144 of IPC will be in force and no one will be allowed to go out from home without a valid reason. People involved in essential services such as doctors, health and emergency staff, banking and agriculture sector people will be allowed to step out during the lockdown.
Cinema halls, theatres, auditoriums, amusement parks, gyms, sports complexes to be closed across the state. Shooting for films, serial, ads also to be closed. All shops, malls, shopping centres not performing essential services will also remain closed from 8pm on April 14 till 7am on May 1.
The chief minister said that the public transport was not being shut down. But, its service will only be used by the essential services staff who are allowed to commute during the lockdown.
During the complete lockdown, restaurants and hotel will be shut down but take-away and home delivery services are permitted. The roadside food stalls can also operate, but with take away service only, said the chief minister.
Thackeray also announced that the state government will give three kg wheat and two kg rice for next one month free of cost to poor and needy people in the state. For the next one month, the state government will give Shiv Bhojan free of cost. Earlier the government was charging Rs 5-10 per thali.
Additionally, Rs 1,500 per labour registered with the state government labour department will be given by the state government. The same benefit will be extended to registered domestic workers, hawkers and auto drivers. This benefit will also be extended to tribal population in the state during complete lockdown. The state has also demarcated Rs 5,400 crore for various schemes in the COVID19 pandemic.
In his address, Uddhav Thackeray also informed that per day 40,000-50,000 Remdesivir are used in Maharashtra. If the coronavirus cases continue to increase, then the demand of these injections in the state will go up to 100,000 per day. In Maharashtra, today, April 13, 60,212 COVID-19 positive cases were reported. He also said there was a huge pressure over the health infrastructure and there was a shortage of oxygen and Remdesivir in the state.
Thackeray went on to say that the second wave of COVID19 was more dangerous than the first wave and that there is also a third and the fourth wave of virus. Hence, there is a need to vaccine as many people as possible.
