Lockdown in Maharashtra till April 30 : Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai, Apr 11, 2020: Stating that lockdown will continue till April 30 I Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray indicated that in view of the situation lockdown will be made more stringent.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today talked to chief ministers of all states through video conferencing. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was addressing the people of the state to give information about this meeting and decisions taken through social media today.

Though the situation is under control we cannot afford to be negligent, the Chief Minister said appealing to the citizens to remain careful in protecting them from this virus assuring that the government will take their responsibility. He urged them to understand the seriousness of the situation and follow the discipline. We can win only if we abide by the discipline, he said.

This will continue even in lockdown

The Chief Minister made it clear that during the lock down period works related to farming, transport of agricultural produces, essential commodities and medicines will be continued.

Work is on what to do after Apr 14

Plans are going on about things to be done after April 14 and I will give the information to yo u till April 14, he said assuring that courage, restraint and discipline in our behavior will be able to break the chain around us. Avoid going out of your homes as far as possible, avoid crowding even if you go out for essential commodities and don’t go without a mask to save yourself, he suggested.

Situation is like that

Today, each one of us including the Prime Minister was wearing a mask during the video conference. So, far nobody dared to put a mask on our mouth but the situation is like that, the Chief Minister said adding that the number of patients is increasing and I am not interested in hiding this fact. But we have increased the tests also. We do not wait for people to come to us for testing, we approach them and conduct the tests. As Gateway of India is entrance to Mumbai so is the airport where people from all over the world come and go. Initially, people from countries not listed in the Central Government list were not tested, he said. We have succeeded in reducing the pace of multiplication, but we want it to bring it to zero, he said reiterating that no patient should be infected by Corona virus.

Take care of senior citizens

Appealing to the people to take care of the senior citizens in their houses the Chief Minister said that so far we have conducted 33000 tests including 19000 tests in Mumbai alone. He said that 1000 positive patients were detected. Among the infected 65 to 70 percent patients were found to be mild and excessively mild symptoms, he said. The figure of those cured and negative tested people in quarantine is considerably large and they are being discharged to go home. Unfortunately, there were some deaths in the state he said adding that most of them were from high risk group citizens. Some patients are getting admitted at the last stage, he lamented.

Affected areas completely sealed

The areas in Mumbai where infected patients were found are completely sealed, he said adding that people in those areas faced some difficulties and inconvenience initially, but now there also supply of essential commodities, medicines and vegetables etc. is being regularized. We quarantined the area where positive patients are located, he said adding that the corporation employees are visiting houses to conduct tests, the Chief Minister said.

Maharashtra will lead country

So far, Maharashtra has faced this challenge courageously. Maharashtra has always led the country and will do so in this challenging time of Corona Virus, he exuded confidence urging the people to remain calm and composed in this trying period. How long this lockdown will continue is in our hand he said and asked people to follow discipline properly to break this chain of the virus and this is the only way, he added. Entire country is unitedly fighting with this virus and we do not want to indulge in politics on this issue, he clarified. Exuding confidence he said that if we keep our unity forever, we will surely overcome this challenge, the Chief Minister said.