Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday laid stress on minimising crowds in Government and private offices, on board trains public transport buses and at places of worship and strict enforcement of “work from home” policy, and vowed to win “war against virus”, as the confirmed Coronavirus cases climbed to 49 in the State.
On a day when the Chief Minister addressed the people in the state live through social media and appealed to them not to panic and hoard essential commodities and drugs, the state authorities announced that they would screen people for Covid-19 at railway stations, Mumbai-Pune Express Highway and old Mumbai-Pune highway.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that if the people did not comply with the Government advisories and appeals to reduce crowds at public places, the state government would have no alternative but enforce a total lockdown in the State.
With four more persons testing positive for Coronavirus in different parts of the state on Thursday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 rose to 49. Pune and the neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad have accounted for a maximum of 19 cases, the break-up of positive coronavirus cases elsewhere in the State is: Mumbai-11, Nagpur-4, Yavatmal-3, Navi Mumbai-3, Kalyan-3, Panvel-1, Thane-1, Ahmednagar-2, Aurangabad-1 and Ratnagiri-1.
In his social media address to the people across the state, Uddhav said: “What we are witnessing a world war against virus. With the full support of the people across the state, our government has been able to control the pandemic. We will make all-out efforts to win the war that we are waging in the state.”
The Chief Minister said that he had earlier in the day spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who had promised him that the Centre would extend its support to Maharashtra. “I appeal to people not to panic and hoard essential commodities and drugs,” he said.
A day after his Government decided to restrict the attendance of employees in government offices to 50 per cent and asked the Railways and other public transport operators to limit the services to half the normal capacity, the Chief Minister once laid emphasis on minimising crowds at public places. “After our appeal to the people, the crowds at the places of worship have come down drastically. Though we have taken decision to reduce attendance at government and private offices, I still appeal to the people not to venture out of their home if there was no need. Wherever possible, work at home policy rigorously”.
“Though we are taken remedial measures in a satisfactory manner, we will have to take a lot of precautions since the virus is spreading fast,” the chief minister said.
Uddhav appealed once again to the people with symptoms of Covid-19 to take all precautions. “ The patients who have been stamped and quarantined at home not to step out of their homes,” he said.
Heaping praise on the doctors, medical staff and voluntary organisations engaged in fighting in what he called as “War Against Virus”, Uddhav said: “Our doctors, nurses, bus drivers and voluntary organisations are our soldiers. They are working day and night to help us out. Can’t we extend our co-operation to them by confining ourselves to our homes?”
Calling for fighting the pandemic in a united manner, the chief minister said: “The medical disaster that we are combating is independent of religion and caste that we represent. We have to fight the pandemic as one entity. We should not indulge in any mindless acts at this juncture. Immediately after the outbreak of Coronavirus in China, the government there took several stringent measures to combat the pandemic. No wonder that China has by and large tided over the medical crisis. We also have to tide over this crisis. I request the people to co-operate with the Government in our efforts to fight Covid-19. We shall also overcome this crisis”.
In a related development, the Chief Minister’s office tweeted: “CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has spoken to Hon’ble FM Smt @nsitharaman to consider the postponement for the following: 1. 31/3/2020 last date to file belated return for financial year 18-19 2. 31/3/2020 last date to file revised return for financial year 18-19”.
“3. 31/3/2020 last date to pay advance tax to save 234B interest 4. 30/4/2020 last date to pay TDS of March 2020 5. 22/3/2020 last date to file GSTR 3B (GST return for February 2020) and to waive off all the interests, fees, penalties on late compliance of the above deadlines,” the chief minister said in another tweet.
Meanwhile, State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that to prevent a rapid spread of the coronavirus, the Maharashtra Government was contemplating enforcing total lockdown in Mumbai.
“To ensure against rapid spread of Covid -19, we are considering a total lockdown in Mumbai. Currently, there is partial lockdown in Mumbai. If we choose to go in for a total lockdown, we should have an alternative system in place. If Mumbaikars do not comply with the advisories we have issued to them for reducing crowds, we will have no alternative but to enforce a total lockdown in Mumbai,” Tope said, while participating in an interactive programme organised by a leading Marathi television channel.
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s famed dabbawalas have suspended their tiffin box services till March 31.
Ahead of the crucial Friday prayers, Managing Trustee Suhail Khandwani of Mahim Dargah and Haji Ali mausoleum in Worli announced a closure of the two crowded places for the next few days.
He also announced that the trusts managing the two Muslim places of worship would undertake sanitization of the two complexes within and outside.
Following an advisory issued by the state government on Wednesday, shops and business establishments decided to shut down for varying periods ranging from 3 days to 12 days in parts of Mumbai and other satellite towns like Thane, Ulhasnagar, Kalyan-Dombivali, Ratnagiri, Pune.
Simultaneously, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) enforced the policy of keeping open on alternate days for the shops and establishments located along the roads to reduce the crowds.
The Western Railway, Central Railway, Konkan Railway have cancelled more than 70 long-distance train services over the next fortnight due to low occupancy. The WR also cancelled its air-conditioned local train services for an indefinite period and replaced them with regular trains.
The state-run Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) suspended operation of its buses are suspended in certain districts like Pune and Ratnagiri during the next few days to reduce crowds.
In Pune, Ulhasnagar, Kalyan-Dombivali, the authorities enforced closure of thousands of shops, hotels and restaurants. However, the authorities have spared essential establishments like pharmacies, bakeries, dairies and grocery shops from closure.