Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday met the state’s Covid-19 task force members to take a final decision on imposition of stricter curbs in the state given the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases, underlining the need to save the lives of people and clamping of strict restrictions to break the transmission chain of coronavirus. However, no decision was taken on imposition of lockdown yet and he will holding another meeting with the task force members on Monday. An appropriate decision regarding imposing a lockdown in Maharashtra will be taken after April 14, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday.

“Duration of the lockdown and how to handle its economic fallout was discussed during today’s meeting. The task force is of the view that the prevailing coronavirus situation in the state is such that a lockdown is required,” the minister said. Tope also said that setting up of an oxygen generation plant in the state was also discussed during the task force meeting.

In today’s detailed meeting which was held via video conferencing, the Maharashtra CM discussed several issues including availability of oxygen and beds, use of Remdesivir, treatment protocols, increase in capacity of facilities, fines for violating Covid-19 protocols and imposition of restrictions. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh, state Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, Directorate of Medical Education and Research Dr TP Lahane, Taskforce chief Dr Sanjay Oak and several others attended the meeting.

Soon after the meeting, Maharashtra Minister Aslam Sheikh said that during the meeting several members were in favour of a 3-week lockdown and hence a meeting will be held again tomorrow. He said, “Some of the people in today’s meeting were of the view that a lockdown should be imposed for 2 weeks, some were in favour of a 3-week lockdown. A meeting will be held again tomorrow.
In today’s meeting with the state COVID-19 Task Force, everyone was of the view to impose lockdown in the state; SOPs and guidelines for it to be discussed.”

CM Thackeray is scheduled to hold consultations with the finance and other state departments on Monday and discussion will also take place in the cabinet meeting later this week.

Thackeray had on Saturday indicated the imposition of a strict lockdown in the state given the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases. He had held an all-party meeting held virtually to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the state.

Last Sunday, the state government had announced a slew of restrictions, including a weekend lockdown, night curfew and prohibitory orders for the day time. These restrictions will continue till April 30.