Coronavirus LIVE Updates: This is also the fourth straight day of the country seeing over 1.5 lakh fresh COVID-19 infections and the eighth straight day of over one lakh cases
LATEST Updates: This is also the fourth straight day of the country seeing over 1.5 lakh fresh infections and the eighth straight day of over one lakh cases.
With the death of 1,027 more patients in the past 24 hours, the toll in the country has increased to 1,72,085 on Wednesday, said the health ministry. The fatality rate has risen to 1.24 percent.
Reeling under an unprecedented wave, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced
severe, curfew-like restrictions on public movement over the next 15 days across the state, saying the "war against has begun again," as it flagged a shortage of medical oxygen and hospital beds.
The "lockdown-like" restrictions, which exclude essential services, will come into effect from 8 pm on 14 April and remain in force till 7 am on 1 May, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in his address via social media to people of the state.
Section 144 of CrPC prohibiting assembly of five or more people at one spot will be in force during the period, Thackeray said but refrained from terming the new curbs as lockdown.
The new norms entail stricter curbs on public activities to stem the infection spread and build on the existing weekend and night curfew in the state.
Thackeray's announcement of the new curbs came on a day when Maharashtra recorded 60,212 fresh cases and 281 fatalities.
There is a shortage of medical oxygen and beds and the demand for Remdesivir, a key drug, has increased in Maharashtra, he said, adding the Centre should help supply oxygen for patients in the state by using Air Force planes.
"The war against has begun once again," he said, adding the pandemic has assumed a scary proportion in the state.
There is a severe strain on Maharashtra's health infrastructure due to a spike in cases, he added.
Seeking to minimise the adverse impact of the curbs on a large population, the chief minister announced a sort of relief package.
The state government will provide three kg wheat and two kg rice free for the next one month to every poor and needy person, Thackeray said.
He announced a ban on the movement of people for non-essential works during the restriction period.
All essential services, including medical stores hospitals, supply of medicines, among others will remain
operational. The local transport will also function for those involved in essential services, he said.
Thackeray made an emotional appeal, seeking people's support for successful implementation of the curbs.
"I appeal to people to help the state. I want to know whether people are on the side of or the state that wants to break the chain of its spread," he said.
A range of other essential services will also remain out of the purview of the new curbs.
Services such as vaccination, oxygen production, home delivery of food, operation of e-commerce firms, work at construction sites with residential facility and industrial activities, where accommodation or transportation of personnel is available, will remain unaffected, he said.
All banking and financial services, the RBI and its affiliated offices, insurance offices and pre-monsoon works will remain operational, he said.
However, there will be a complete ban on religious, social, cultural and political functions in the state till 1 May, he said.
For political rallies during elections, not more than 200 people can attend an event or 50 percent of the seating capacity of the hall, Thackeray said.
The number of participants at marriage and funeral was capped at 25 and 20, respectively.
Saloons, spas, schools, colleges, private coaching classes, beaches, clubs, swimming pools, gyms, drama theatres and cinema halls will remain close during the next 15 days, the chief minister said.
Though roadside eateries are allowed to operate, buyers can not consume food on the street and only take away will be available, said Thackeray.
He announced a package of Rs 5,476 crore for the poor whose earnings will be impacted.
He said The Shiv Bhojan service of offering a meal at Rs 5 will be offered for free during the period. The state daily feeds around two lakh people. They will now get the food for free."
"Similarly, under the Food Security Act, the registered beneficiaries will get three kg of wheat and two kg of rice for free. The period of this free food grain is for one month. There are seven crore registered beneficiaries," he said.
The 12 lakh registered construction workers will get Rs 1,500 during the period while license holding auto-rickshaw operators will get Rs 1,500. There are 12 lakh such auto-rickshaw drivers. Also, the registered hawkers will get Rs 2,500 during the same period as well, he said.
The number of registered beneficiaries under various state and central schemes such as the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar, Shravanbal and the Indira Gandhi National pension scheme in the state stood at 35 lakh, the chief minister said.
They will get Rs 2,000 for the next two months, he said.
Also, 12 lakh Adivasi families will get Rs 2000 for a month as financial assistance, Thackeray announced.
