COVID spike: Uddhav orders weekend lockdown in Maharashtra; night curfew, other strict curbs in place

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has decided against imposing a complete lockdown in the state. However, a weekend lockdown has been ordered to check the spike in coronavirus cases. Meanwhile, night curfew and other strict curbs will be in place. Only essential services will be allowed on Saturdays and Sundays. Meanwhile, restaurants will be permitted to operate only for take-away and parcel services. Office employees will have to work from home. A number of key decisions were taken at an emergency cabinet meeting chaired by Uddhav on Sunday. 

Maharashtra recorded as many as 57,074 coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking the tally of infections in the state to 30,10,597 while the death toll increased to 55,656 with 277 new fatalities. As many as 27,508 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the number of recovered patients to 25,22,823. The number of active cases stands at 4,30,503.

On Saturday, Maharashtra reported about 49,447 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest rise in a day so far, taking the tally to 29,53,523 while 277 fatalities pushed the toll to 55,656. 

A LOOK AT MAJOR DECISIONS

• Complete lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays
• Curfew in the state from 8 pm till 7 am
• Section 144 in the day
• Malls, restaurants, bars shut
• Govt offices to operate with 50% capacity
• No bar on vegetable market, but protocols to lessen crowd
• Theatres to shut
• Public transport to operate with 50% capacity

• Theatres, drama theatres will be shut, while film and television shootings will continue if there is no crowding

READ MORE: Maharashtra, Punjab reporting highest daily cases  

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