Fear of full lockdown in Maharashtra increases, corona case rising rapidly

Amidst the growing Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state government is feared to have issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by April 1, with the state registering close to six lakh cases this month. And has recorded more than 2,100 deaths. In the last two weeks, Maharashtra has reported a 32.21 percent increase in Covid cases. On Monday, the state reported 31,643 new cases and 102 deaths, taking the active case to 3.36 lakh. On Monday, 5,890 new cases were registered in Mumbai, 4,972 in Pune, and 3,243 in Nagpur.

Maharashtra officials said that for now, local trains will continue to run and have minimal impact on economic activity, but restaurants, malls, public spaces, private offices and pubs are set to see strict protocols to reduce congestion. Officials said offices would be asked to ensure less than 50 percent attendance.

Declaration of certain measures

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday directed the Relief and Rehabilitation Department to create a SOP for the possible lockdown, expressing concern over the economic loss when another lockdown is implemented. A second meeting date has been set for Tuesday. Secretary of Relief and Rehabilitation Department Aseem Gupta said that they plan to announce some measures to ease the agitation for a few days.

“If the desired results of reduction in cases are not seen, we will go to the next level and implement drastic measures,” he said, adding, “We do not want to create a situation where migrant laborers panic and return home.” The difficulties encountered last year will not be repeated. But those who violate the norms will be punished and strict implementation of the existing norms.

Difficult to travel in buses and trains

Gupta said that he expects cases to peak in Maharashtra by mid-April and follow a mildly declining trajectory thereafter. Until then, people can expect restrictions in one form or another for a few days, he said, if all of these measures fail, the lockdown will be enforced. Vinita Singhal, Secretary, Department of Labor, said that construction, factories and essential services will continue to function as usual. But traveling in buses and trains will stagger to reduce connectivity. Private offices will be expected to work with a minimum number of employees and stagger.

Meeting with Health Minister Rajesh Tope and Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte

Singhal said that at this point the migrant laborers need not worry about returning home. “A complete lockout is under contemplation and has not been finalized yet. We want to educate people and see what works. In a meeting held on Sunday with district officials, Health Minister Rajesh Tope and Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, the Health Department had advocated lockout to control the surge in new cases. Health Secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas, who has been vocal in the past in protest against a lockout, has been forced to reconsider growing cases in the past one week. I was not expecting the growth rate of cases to be so high.

Possibility of heavy pressure on oxygen beds and ICU

In a presentation to the CM on Sunday, Vyas said that four districts – Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Thane – account for 60 per cent of the state’s more than 3 lakh active cases. Officials in Nagpur district are blaming double mutations seen in 15–20 percent of virus samples. Vyas informed CM that the current trend is likely to cause heavy pressure on ventilators, oxygen beds and ICUs in the coming days. According to Health Department data, 12,701 out of 60,349 oxygen beds are occupied, and 1,881 in 9,030 ventilators are in use. In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to take over all small private nursing homes for the treatment of Covid.

Hospital infrastructure got smaller

The concern is high in districts such as Aurangabad, Nashik, Nagpur, and Pune, where hospital infrastructure is getting smaller and positivity rates are higher. 71.25 percent of the total active cases in Jalna are significant. At the meeting, the State Covid Task Force has recommended micro-contribution zones, contact tracing, and rapid immunization. Member of Covid Task Force, Dr. Shashank Joshi said that districts like Nanded are a group of affairs. It is important to push for institutional quarantine. Entire families are testing positive in the absence of adherence to home segregation norms.