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MUMBAI: National closure may be lifted on May 4, but Mumbai and Pune are likely to extend restrictions until May 18 as covid-19 cases continue to increase in the two cities, Maharashtra’s health minister said , Rajesh Tope, to Mint on Saturday.
“The main objective of implementing the blockade was to stop the spread of the covid-19 pandemic and if the spread is not contained, we will have to extend the block,” Tope said by phone.
“Currently, the problem is only in the slums where the positive cases are increasing rapidly. We have to make sure that all the containment areas are completely cordoned off. If necessary, we will extend the blockade for 15 more days after May 3 only for the containment areas, if not for all of Mumbai and Pune, “he added.
There are currently 512 active containment zones in the state, while Pune sealed market or peth areas in Pune and Kondhwa since April 7. This essentially means that the complete blockade will continue at all critical points in Pune and Mumbai, which have seen the highest number of covid-19 cases in the past month.
As of April 24, Maharashtra reported 394 new cases of covid-19, bringing the state’s positive coronavirus case count to 6817, according to the Maharashtra Health Department. Of these 6,817 cases, 4,447 were from Mumbai alone, followed by 1,020 from the Pune division. In Dharavi, in Mumbai, which is the largest slum in Asia, the total number of positive covid-19 cases reached 220, as of April 24, while 14 were dead.
“We have asked the government to apply full closure restrictions on schools, universities and public gatherings in Maharashtra until May 18. For Mumbai and Pune, all non-essential services will not be allowed to operate in the access point areas for at least another 15 days. after May 3, “Tope said.
According to Union government guidelines, the group containment action plan is being implemented in places where patient groups have been found in the state. Currently, 1,19,161 people are in home quarantine and 8,814 people are in institutional quarantine, the state said. Covid-19’s death toll has now increased to 301 in the state.
One month after the national closure, the Center has allowed stores to open in residential areas as long as they follow certain guidelines.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs said on Friday, “all stores, including neighborhood stores and independent stores, stores in residential complexes, within the boundaries of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the Stores Law and Establishments of the respective State and UT “are allowed to open during the blockade.
However, market shops, multi-brand and single-brand shopping malls, as well as market complexes located in municipal areas will remain closed until May 3.
The relaxations will not apply to coronavirus hot spots and containment areas. Stores can only remain functional with 50% of staff. The use of masks and social distancing were mandatory, according to the guidelines.
The total number of coronavirus cases in India has increased to 24,506. The death toll has risen to 775. India is under national closure until May 3 to curb the spread of the virus that has killed nearly 2 million worldwide. Earlier this week, the Center eased the blocking rules in the places least affected by covid-19.
On April 21, the Maharashtra government re-established a total closure in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and the Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR), a day after some brakes were relaxed. The development came after the state government issued guidelines on the partial lifting of the blockade since April 20.
“While we have allowed factories and agriculture-related businesses in green and orange areas since April 20 in the state, and we are closely monitoring that social distancing is maintained in these areas,” Tope said.
Among the sectors that have been allowed to resume activities in the green and orange areas are agriculture and its branches (horticulture, fishing, plantations, animal husbandry, forest-related activities), MGNREGA work, cargo movement, operation of commercial and private establishments, industries operating in rural areas, manufacturing in special economic zones and industrial municipalities only in non-containment zones, road construction, buildings and all kinds of industrial projects, renewable energy projects and all related urgent work with the premonsoon.
“The blockade will have to be carefully lifted with a clear segregation between the critical and non-critical point zones. Essential services should continue with the least amount of labor possible to reduce the transmission of covid-19 and the rules of social distancing should be applied in places where non-essential services are started. After May 3, the government can only lift the partial closure and only in the green and orange areas. For Mumbai and Pune, the blockade must continue, ”said Dr. Pradeep Awate, state surveillance officer for the Maharashtra health department.
