Situation calls for lockdown, says Uddhav Thackeray; final decision awaited

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday called an all-party meeting via video conference to review the current COVID-19 situation in the state.

This comes a day after Maharashtra recorded 58,993 new COVID-19 cases, 45,391 recoveries, and 301 deaths. Mumbai for the second consecutive day recorded fewer than 10,000 cases on Friday, but fresh fatalities jumped to 35 from 25 a day before.

Addressing the all-party meeting, Maharashtra CM said, there seems to be no other option except lockdown in this situation.

"If the Covid-19 cycle is to be stopped, strict restrictions will have to be imposed, albeit temporarily," he said.

"There should be restrictions. But the outrage among people should also be considered. In order to find a way out of this, the sentiments of small businessmen, retailers, hairdressers and other businessmen have to be taken into consideration. Because of the persistent financial crisis, they are now exhausted."

"We will explain to the people altogether. But the state government has to understand what the people are saying," he added in a series of tweets.

"The number of Covid-19 patients is increasing so fast that if a decision is not taken today about a lockdown, a situation like a lockdown will automatically come tomorrow," the CMO said in another tweet.

"If this is a health emergency, the health and well-being of the citizens should be a priority," the statement added emphasizing that saving lives should be government's top priority.