COVID-19: Maharashtra imposes Section 144 for 15 days

Pune: With the second wave of Covid-19 putting a lot of pressure on state’s healthcare and to break the chain of the virus, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday imposed stricter curbs under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure from 2000 hours of Wednesday, while ruling out complete lockdown.

The new restrictions will be in place for 15 days.

Under these guidelines, only essential services are exempted from the restrictions and public transport is allowed to run only.

Other than these, petrol pumps, financial institutions associated with SEBI and construction activity will continue to operate.

However, hotels and restaurants have been asked to remain shut but are allowed only take-away and home deliveries.

During a televised address this evening, Mr Thackeray said that Maharashtra has registered more than 60,000 cases in past day.

The second wave of the coronavirus has put a lot of pressure on the state’s health infrastructure, he noted.

The Chief Minister has urged retired and newly graduated healthcare workers to help government in fighting the pandemic.

“I appeal to doctors who have just graduated to come and help us. I am appealing to the healthcare workers to fight this battle. I am urging NGOs and other organisations to come forward to win this fight. Keep politics aside for now. If we all come together this time, we can win,” Mr Thackeray added. (UNI)