Maharashtra Lockdown 4.0 Guidelines: No relaxations in red zones, tough norms for Mumbai, Pune

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Lockdown 4.0: Maharashtra is continuing relaxations, however, red zones cannot be relaxed, CM Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said announcing new guidelines to put curb on spread of deadly coronavirus. Thackeray said tough norms will prevail for areas in Mumbai and Pune. In green and orange zones, the Maharashtra government is opening up things. Maharashtra govt has extended lockdown in the state till May 31.

Also, Thackeray appealed people to not take COVID-19 pandemic lightly and treat it as a "regular flu" and said that he will not allow the cases to increase steeply.

The Maharashtra chief minister said that the coronavirus pandemic will have to be tackled before the monsoon season begins as "schools and colleges will be scheduled to start again in June".

"We still have green, orange, red zones. We will not be able to afford too many exemptions in red zones. But in green and orange zones we are opening up things, " Thackeray said.

Thackeray said govt has given permission for opening 50,000 industries and 5 lakh workers (approx) have already started working. Over 40,000 acre land has been kept aside for new businesses.

In order to revive the state's economy which has taken a hit due to the COVID-19 crisis, the CM said, "I welcome new investors in the state. Over 40,000 acre land has been kept aside for new businesses. We will provide the land to the new investor on a rental basis."

He reiterates PM Narendra Modi's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' request and urges people of the state to come forward and start working in the green zones.

"Any relaxations from the earlier rules are yet to be implemented in Mumbai under lockdown 4.0. Being in the red zone, strict action will be taken on vehicles & people travelling at any hour of the day, without valid permission or for non-emergency," Mumbai police said.

Appealing people to help healthcare workers the Chief Minister said, "We are concentrating on the rising cases and deaths in the state, but we must also consider the recoveries." Clarifying why lockdown has not been lifted in Maharashtra, Thackeray said, "If we allow industries to function and if their workers are found positive, then again we will have to go into a forced lockdown. Why not continue this lockdown only."

Meanwhile, on Monday, Maharashtra recorded 2,033 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 35,058 on Monday, said the health department. This was the second consecutive day when the state has reported more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases.

Also, 51 fresh deaths took the toll in the state to 1,249, he said. Maharashtra COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 35,058, new cases 2,033, deaths 1,249, discharged 8,437, active cases 25,392, people tested so far 2,82,194.