Maharashtra can't afford another lockdown, asked CM to consider other options: NCP leader Nawab Malik

Mumbai, Mar 29: Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik has said that the state cannot afford a lockdown and he has asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to consider other options.

 

 

"We can't afford a lockdown. We've asked the CM to consider other options. Due to rising cases, he has directed the administration to prepare for a lockdown but that doesn't mean that a lockdown is inevitable. If people follow rules, it can be avoided," Nawab Malik told a news agency.

 

 

After a meeting with senior health officials and COVID task force, CM uddhav Thackeray had directed them to prepare for restrictions similar to lockdown if people continue to violate COVID-related rules. Thackeray had said that the COVID cases are rising because people are not following guidelines seriously and that is why strict steps like lockdown need to be considered.

 

Earlier, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil had also said "lockdown is not a solution", amid speculations of lockdown in the state in view of the surge in COVID-19 count.

 

Maharashtra reported 31,643 new COVID-19 cases, 20,854 recoveries and 102 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state's health department on Monday. Besides, the case fatality rate (CFR) in Maharashtra is at 1.98 per cent while the recovery rate is 85.71 per cent. As many as 5,888 new COVID-19 cases were found in Mumbai while 3,561 patients were discharged today. The recovery rate in Mumbai is 85 per cent.

 

 

According to the health ministry, India registered 68,020 new cases in the last 24 hours, out of which Maharashtra reported the highest daily new cases at 40,414, followed by Karnataka with 3,082 while Punjab reported 2,870 new cases. On the other hand, the total cases reached 27,45,518 including 23,53,307 recoveries and the death toll reached 54,283. At present, there are 3,36,584 active coronavirus cases in the state.