Lockdown if people don't follow Covid norms,warn Maha CM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday warned that there will be a total lockdown in the state if people don't start wearing face masks. He further said that 'lockdown will start from Monday evening wherever needed'. In his virtual address he said that the war against the coronavirus disease pandemic is similar to World War and added that mask acts as an effective shield against the infection.Thackeray said that cases were increasing and it would be ascertained in two weeks whether there is a second wave of Covid-19 or not.

In Maharashtra, there are 9 lakh beneficiaries of Covid vaccine till now. There were myths regarding the vaccine but with 9 lakh beneficiaries those concerns are resolved," said Thackeray. Thackeray pointed out that the number of daily coronavirus cases in Mumbai - one of the country's worst-hit cities - has doubled over the last few days. Calling the Covid situation in the state "serious", he said, it would take a couple of weeks to establish if the current upsurge in daily figures is a fresh wave of infections or not. Thackeray added that Maharashtra reported 6,971 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday.

Here's a list of restrictions announced by the CM Thakarey:

• All religious, social and cultural programmes will be banned for next few days starting Monday.
• The government also plans to implement 'I am responsible' drive for self discipline. Many experts and government officials have blamed the laxity shown by people of the state for resurgence of Covid-19 in Maharashtra. On Sunday, 16,154 people were fined for not wearing masks.
• The state government has already started taking strict action against management of wedding and banquet halls in Mumbai and other cities who are found violating Covid-19 nors.
• Thackeray also said that he has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement staggered office timings.
• He further said that the state government will review the situation in th next eight days to decide whether a lockdown should be imposed. "Should we impose another lockdown, I am asking you. It will all depend on the people of Maharashtra," said Thackeray.
• A week-long lockdown has already been announced in Amravati, one of the worst-affected districts in Maharashtra, which will come into force from Monday.