Partial lockdown in Mumbai if Covid-19 cases won’t come down: Guardian Minister

Mumbai: Guardian Minister for Mumbai city, Aslam Shaikh, on Monday warned that if Covid-19 cases won’t reduce in metropolis, then the government may have to impose a partial lockdown.

He said that the option of imposing the partial lockdown in Mumbai was discussed at a cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, here.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister expressed concern that active cases have gone back to the peak ranges seen in September last year.

The Guardian Minister also said that the government will first try to control the infection by implementing measures like imposing fines for not wearing a mask or crowding at marriage halls and pubs.

Institutional quarantine could be one option and increasing testing and speeding up vaccination programmes on a mass scale could be other options.

“Finally, a partial lockdown could be imposed if cases continue to increase,” Mr Shaikh added.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the Covid-19 situation in the state is alarming.
“We have to take strict measures. Lockdowns can be imposed if required for some districts. We have empowered the district administrations to decide on lockdowns,” he added.