Uddhav Thackeray mulling lockdown with 'minimum impact on economy'

In view of the rise in fresh COVID19 cases Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday asked officials to prepare a plan for implementation of a lockdown which will have a minimum impact on the economy on the recommendation of the state COVID19 task force an official release saidIn a meeting held with the chief minister Health Minister Rajesh Tope and other officials members of the task force expressed apprehension that the state might report 40000 fresh cases in the next 24 hours it saidDuring the meeting the CM reviewed health infrastructure including availability of beds oxygen medicines etc in the state to treat COVID19 patientsThe task force then recommended that the state government implement measures like a stricter lockdown to stem the rise in coronavirus positive casesThe chief minister then asked officials to prepare a detailed plan for implementation of a lockdown which will have a minimum impact on the economy of the state the release saidThere should not be any kind of confusion among the people once a lockdown is announced the CM is quoted as sayingMaharashtra has seen a huge rise in coronavirus positive cases over the last week As many as one lakh new infections were added to the states tally in such short period24619 cases had been reported on a single day in September 2020 However on March 27 this year the state reported 35726 new cases in a day This number could touch 40000 in the next 24 hours the release said quoting the members of the task forceStruggling to arrest the upsurge in coronavirus positive cases the CM on Friday directed officials to impose section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure under which gathering of five or more persons will be banned in night in the state beginning March 28On Saturday the state government announced a ban on holding of all types of gatherings including political and religious It also ordered that restaurants gardens and malls will remain shut between 8 pm to 7 am beginning Saturday night People will also not be allowed to visit beaches during 8 pm to 7 amMaharashtra on Saturday reported 35726 new coronavirus positive cases the secondhighest daily rise which took the tally to 2673461At 166 the state reported the highest number of fatalities due to COVID19 in this year so farThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever