News LIVE: CM Uddhav Thackeray expected to announce strict lockdown across Maharashtra for 15 days

Maharashtra is likely to face a strict lockdown for 15 days as Covid-19 cases in the state have continue to surge despite strict restrictions for a week. A demand for a complete lockdown was made by most ministers in the state cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is likely to make an official announcement by addressing the state on Wednesday. Read story here

A 43-year-old Covid patient assaulted a nurse at a private hospital in Malabar Hill over not getting proper treatment. The accused, Rajesh Gupta, a Lower Parel resident, was admitted to the Malabar Hill hospital last week. Read more here

CM Uddhav Thackeray will seek permission from the Centre to import Covid-19 vaccines from other countries to carry out an extensive inoculation drive in Maharashtra.Public health minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government has decided to carry out an ‘exemplary vaccination drive’ for which funds will be diverted from other departments. “With the Centre opening up vaccination for all, we plan to massively scale up the drive in the state. If required, we will be importing vaccines like Moderna, Pfizer and Sputnik from other countries,” said Tope, after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Arrested assistant inspector Sachin Waze’s driver’s statement was recorded before a magistrate on Tuesday. A statement given before a magistrate under section 164 of CrPC is treated as evidence during trial. Waze’s driver, now a witness, narrated what he knew while working with Waze.The now-suspended Waze is prime suspect in planting explosives in a Scorpio and parking it near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in south Mumbai on February 25.The SUV was owned by Thane resident Mansukh Hiran, whose body was found in Mumbra creek.

On a positive note, the cases in the Mumbai G/North ward saw a dip on Tuesday with 186 fresh coronavirus cases being recorded as compared to Monday's 245 cases. The total caseload in Mumbai's G/North ward reached 22740. Read story here

The ward with the highest upper class concentration has reported the maximum Covid case growth rate among all 24 wards of the city. The rate, in D ward, which comprises areas like Nepeansea Road, Malabar Hill and Pedder Road, is 1.86%. In comparison, the city's average is 1.46%. Next is H-West ward (Bandra, Khar and Santacruz), with a rate of 1.84%.Officials say that currently most new cases are from contact tracing while index cases are few. Last July too, when the city's average Covid case growth rate was 1.34%, D ward had a rate of 2.1% and H-West 1.55%. In the first week of September, D and H-West had 1.44% and 1.4% compared to the city's 1.1%. Read story here

With 519 coronavirus deaths reported on Tuesday, the death toll reached 61,343 in the state. 54,224 people recovered from the disease in Maharashtra.The recovery rate in the state is 81.14 per cent. The fatality rate in Maharashtra is 1.55 per cent.