With the continued surge in the Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, three Ministers in the MVA Government on Friday indicated that the State Government would enforce more stringent restrictions to break the chain of fast spreading infections.
Talking separately to media persons, State Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, public health and family welfare minister Rajesh Tope and relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar said that the state government was looking at ways to make the Covid-19 protocols more stringent in view of the increasing number of infections and deaths across the state.
“If people do not cooperate with the government in implementing the Covid-19 norms, we may have to strengthen the restrictions,” Walse-Patil said.
Wadettiwar said that to save the lives of people the government might have to announce new curbs. “The state may announce curbs on supply of fuel (petrol and diesel)…people are still using local trains even though they are not in essential services,” he said.
Similarly, Tope said: "We would require complete lockdown for 15 days to three weeks even though I am not in favour of that immediately. If hospitals are crowded, if there is a shortage of medicines and if the government is unable to cope with the growing number of patients then such a step can be taken”.
The statements by the three MVA ministers should be seen in the light of the fact that the Covid-19 situation has worsened even after the state government imposed a ban on the movement of people without a proper reason, prohibitory orders under section 144 of Cr PC and night curfew for a period of 15 days from the night of April 14 till May 1, 2021.