Maha CM Uddhav hints at imposing strictest restrictions amidst covid crisis at all-party meet

Uddhav says it is time to take a call on imposing lockdown.

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday hinted at imposing stricter restrictions be it for limited time to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. He said this while chairing an all-party meeting on the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the state. He said it is time to take a call on imposing lockdown.

He said, saving the lives of the people should be given the topmost priority, considering the health emergency.

Thackeray said the suggestions made by opposition leaders will be seriously looked into. Some of the suggestions made by opposition leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Praveen Darekar on the availability of Remdesivir, receiving the test reports in less time among others.

Stressing on vaccinating more and more people, Thackeray said, it is a general opinion that while imposing strict restrictions daily wage earners and workers should not be affected.

At the beginning of the meeting, state chief secretary Sitaram Kunte informed about the measures taken by the government in controlling Covid-19.

The meeting was attended by deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, senior ministers in the Cabinet, Ashok Chavan, Dilip Walse-Patil, Rajesh Tope, Leader of opposition in legislative assembly Devendra Fadnavis among others.

“Last year people were at home due to the lockdown which helped in tracing of those who came in contact of a positive patient. Now since everything has opened up it is becoming problematic”, Thackeray said in the meeting. He also asked leaders of all-party to create awareness among people on Covid-19.

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said that people are receiving testing reports late.

“Receiving testing reports is taking time as it goes up from 3-10 days. Labs will have to be told to provide testing reports quickly which will help in containing Covid spread. Earlier, testing reports were received in 24 hours which helped in curbing the caseload”, he said.

Fadnavis said a meeting with officials from different laboratories should be held. “It has come to light that when one member in the family is found positive then other members are also found positive, which is affecting the fight against Covid-19”, he added.

Fadnavis asked for the government’s intervention to resolve the issue of shortage of Remdesivir in government as well as in private hospitals.