PUNE: With rising cases in Pune, Maharashtra deputy chief minister
Ajit Pawar on Friday said that existing strict restrictions maintaining Covid protocol should continue as of now.
“However, if there is no improvement in the situation, a decision about a lockdown in the district would have to be taken in the next meeting on Friday (April 2),” he said at the weekly meeting.
While all other existing restrictions continue as last week, he said, adding, schools and colleges will continue to remain closed till April 30.
The deputy chief minister expressed grave concern about the rising cases in Pune district and the state and said that the "situation is very critical" and citizens have to follow the Covid protocol strictly.
"We do not want to call for a lockdown but we will be forced to if the situation does not improve. Moreover, health officials, district administration and even elected representatives have said that if cases continue to rise, for breaking the chain of transmission, we will be forced to impose a lockdown in the district,'' he said while talking to the media post the two-hour review meeting held on Friday
With nearly 6,500 cases being registered in Pune district, the deputy chief minister said that data on the public health portal reflects a high positivity rate of 25 per cent for the district which is up from 9-10 per cent in the previous month.
The positivity rate ideally should be below 5%.
While announcing that the schools and colleges will remain closed till April 30, he said that the examinations for class ten and twelve will be conducted following all the necessary Covid protocol and directed the school education department to take all the necessary precautions for conducting these exams.
The Maharashtra Public Service Examinations that are scheduled too will be held as has been announced following the same norms
"Citizens should follow strict Covid protocols and the administration has been asked to keep a strict watch on whether the rules are violated or else be ready to face a lockdown," he warned. He said that the night movement restrictions continue from 11pm to 6am.
About the operation of restaurants and bars, he said restrictions that are already in place which allow operations till 10pm for dine-in and one hour for food parcels with 50 per cent of capacity would continue as of now.
He warned if the situation worsens, he will be forced to close down the dine-in service completely and allow only the parcel services after assessing the situation in the coming week.
He warned that there should be no political and social or religious function and in case of marriages the number of attendees should not be more than 50 and it should not be more than 20 for the last rites as has been specified by the government
He said that private hospitals should ramp up infrastructure facilities and ensure that there are adequate beds made available for the patients.