COVID-19: Maharashtra reimposes lockdown on Mumbai, Pune

The Maharashtra government has decided to reinstate a full lockdown in the Mumbai(MMR) and Pune(PMR) as coronavirus cases rise in the state. This happened just a day after some curbs were relaxed. On Tuesday, 552 new Covid-19 cases and 19 deaths were reported in Maharashtra, taking the total number of cases in the state to 5,218 and death toll to 251.

State chief secretary Ajoy Mehta said, “In view of a large number of people commuting because of the relaxation issued under order dated 17 April (which allowed a partial lifting of the lockdown) and also the imminent threat of the further spread of the pandemic, it is hereby directed that in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Pune Metropolitan Region, the order issued on 17 April will not apply and the position prevailing prior to the issuing of the 17 April order shall be reinstated.”

The order furthers states that E-commerce delivery would be permitted only of essential commodities, food, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.

On 17 April, the Maharashtra government had issued guidelines on the partial lifting of the lockdown from 20 April. Among the sectors that have been allowed to resume activities are agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, plantations, animal husbandry,forest-related activities, MGNREGA work, movement of cargo, the functioning of commercial and private establishments, industries operating in rural areas, manufacturing in special economic zones and industrial townships only in non-containment zones, construction of roads, buildings and all kinds of industrial projects, renewable energy projects and all urgent pre-monsoon related work.

But with the new order imposed all the activities will be disallowed in Mumbai and Pune.

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