The Maharashtra government on Thursday (May 13, 2021) extended the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown curbs in the state to break the chain of transmission.
The state government also imposed additional stringent restrictions, which will be imposed in the next phase starting saturday.
The Uddhav Thackeray-leave Shiv Sena government has now made carrying a negative RT-PCR report to enter the state through any mode of transportation mandatory. The test report will have to be issued within 48 hours before the time of entry into the state.
All restrictions enforced as per earlier orders for people arriving from places of “sensitive origin” will be applicable to everyone.
In case of cargo carriers, not more than two people will be allowed to travel in those vehicles.
The lockdown-like curbs were earlier imposed in the state on April 5.
The curbs were further tightened on April 15 with Section 144 of the CrPc, banning assembly of five or more people, imposed in the entire state.
Earlier, the health ministry has proposed an extension of lockdown for 15 more days.
“There is no sufficient supply of vaccine vials by the Centre for inoculation of above-45 age group people. Hence, the state cabinet decided to divert the stock, purchased for the 18-44 age group, for the above-45 age group. Therefore, we are suspending the inoculation of the 18-44 age group for some period,” state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.
“Maharashtra’s Covid-19 growth rate is merely half of the country’s daily growth rate. The state’s per day growth rate is 0.8 percent as against the country’s rate of 1.4 per cent. The state is carrying out around two lakh tests on a daily basis while per million testing is around 2.50 lakh. It is a very good sign for us,” Tope added.
