Maharashtra lockdown news: CM Thackeray may not impose complete shutdown, tougher restrictions likely

Maharashtra is reeling under a fresh surge of COVID-19 cases with a steep increase in daily count. Amid such an alarming situation, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government is expected to release a standard operating procedure (SOP) by April 1. 

The new SOPs are expected to impose more restrictions and guidelines for the people of the state and curb public movement.

On one hand, CM Uddhav Thackeray has asked officials to prepare a roadmap for the second statewide lockdown. However, reports claim that the total shutdown is not on the cards yet. 

While experts have attributed the rise in COVID-19 cases to the resumption of the local train services, officials have stated that local trains will continue to run.

Maharashtra COVID-19 cases data

Over the last two weeks, Maharashtra has recorded a 32.21% rise in COVID-19 cases.

Maharashtra has recorded close to six lakh cases this month and registered over 2,100 deaths.

For the last two weeks, the state has been recording over 30,000 cases. 

On Saturday, Maharashtra reported the highest single-day rise of 40,414 COVID-19 positive cases.

On Monday, it added 31,643 fresh infections, taking the overall tally to 27,45,518.

Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Thane accounted for 60% of the more than 3 lakh active cases in the state.

Nagpur district officials are attributing the surge to a double mutation seen in 15-20% of virus samples.

Restrictions likely to be imposed

The government might announce restrictions for restaurants, malls, public places, private offices, and pubs in a bid to break the chain of transmission.

Offices are likely to be asked to function at 50% capacity.