Mumbai,
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the lockdown curbs in the state will continue beyond June 30.
More states like Tamil Nadu ,Assam: Telangana and Jharkhand:have alos announced extensions of lockdown in some form beyound June 30
In a televised address, Thackeray ruled out easing the restrictions, adding the state still faces coronavirus threat.
"Will lockdown be lifted after June 30? The clear answer is no," Thackeray tweeted later.
The unlock process, dubbed Mission Begin Again by the state government, is being gradually implemented to put the economy back on track, Thackeray said in his address.
Thackeray said there will be some restrictions in the state after June 30 but more relaxations will be offered gradually.
"The state has now started the unlock process under the Mission Begin Again. There will be some restrictions even after June 30, but eventually more and more relaxations will be offered to the people," he said.
"The relaxations will be offered on case to case basis. For example, passenger transportation will continue to have some restrictions but some local services will be resumed or allowed to function, said a senior official from the CM''s office.
Thackeray emphasised on maintaining stringent discipline as COVID-19 cases are still being reported in large numbers.
"Mission Begin Again may result in more (coronavirus) cases, but the number of tests have also increased," Thackeray said.
We are focusing on restarting education as this is more important than reopening schools, he said.
Thackeray said the 'Chase the Virus' initiative that received good results in worst-hit Mumbai will now be expanded to other parts of the state to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
As part of the campaign, 15 close contacts of a COVID-19 patient will compulsorily be kept in institutional quarantine, while community leaders will tell people about comorbidities, meals and other facilities available at institutional quarantine facilities etc, clinic timings etc.
It was launched on May 27.
"We have received good results of Chase the Virus campaign in Mumbai and we have now decided to implement it across the state," the CM said.
Monsoon has started and we have already started meetings to address issues related to heavy rains and diseases, Thackeray said. Rainy days may result in diseases and we have to take precautions by keeping our surroundings clean and ensure that stagnant water is not collecting anywhere," he added.
He also requested senior private physicians to resume their practice to share burden of state health machinery.
"There is no shortage of PPE kits and N95 masks. Please reach out to the government if there is any shortage in medical supplies. Maharashtra needs your experience right now, he said.
Last week, the Palaniswami-led Tamil Nadu government had announced ‘maximised restricted lockdown’ in four districts of the state, including Chennai. This also includes full scale shutdown on two Sundays, the government had stated.Chennai, which is under fresh lockdown from last Friday till June 30, accounted for 1,956 of the new cases, and its share of the total tally stood at 49,690.
The TMC-led West Bengal government announced that the coronavirus-forced lockdown will be extended in the state till July 31. During the extended coronavirus lockdown, the timings of the night curfew has been revised and it will remain in force between 10 pm and 5 am.
The Assam government has announced a 12-hour night curfew across the state and a 14-day complete lockdown in Kamrup (Metro) district, of which Guwahati city is a part, from June 28 midnight.
“We are now left with no choice but to impose a complete lockdown for 14 days from June 28 midnight, and this time it will be very strict as no grocery shops will be allowed to open or supply of vegetables and other essentials will be permitted for the first seven days,” Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters in Guwahati.
A 12-hour night-curfew from 7 pm will be observed across the state. A complete lockdown will be enforced in other towns and municipal areas on weekends from June 27 every week till the COVID-19 outbreak is arrested, said Sarm, adding lockdown situation in Guwahati will be reviewed after seven days from the enforcement of the restrictions.
Though no lockdown has been announced as of now, traders of Hyderabad’s largest wholesale market Begum Bazar decided to shut shops for eight days from Sunday.
The Jharkhand government announced an extension of the lockdown till July 31 on Friday to contain the spread of COVID-19. “Considering the seriousness of the situation, the state government has decided to extend the lockdown till July 31,” Chief Minister Hemant Soren said in a tweet.X:
Mizoram: On June 21, the Mizoram government had announced a complete lockdown in Aizawl municipal area, district headquarters and containment zones after an increase in COVID-19 cases till June 30. However yesterday, the state government eased lockdown in these places after a dip in coronavirus cases in the past two days.