Just after announcing a five-level Unlock plan on Thursday, the Maharashtra government clarified that new rules to phase out Covid restrictions in place since mid-April are “still under consideration”. This time, no timeline has been specified for the new plan.
Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Waddettiwar announced, “Five levels of unlocking the state had been decided based on positivity rate and total oxygen beds occupancy. Level 1, for example, would mean that the lockdown can be lifted completely. Level 5 is the Red Zone, meaning a complete lockdown.
Mr Waddettiwar, who briefed the media after a meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, also said 18 districts had been listed for Level 1, including Thane. Mr Thackeray’s office said that the restrictions in the state “have not been removed” and proposals for new rules are still under consideration.
“We have not completely stopped corona infection. Infection is still on the rise in some places in rural areas. Considering the deadly and changing form of the coronavirus, it is important to decide whether or not to relax the restrictions. State restrictions have not been lifted,” said the state government.
Break the chain has begun to relax some of the restrictions, with the Disaster Management Department deciding on five stages, the weekly positivity rate, and the availability of oxygen beds. Detailed guidelines of tightening or relaxing the restrictions in the state based on these criteria will be notified by the government,” the statement said.
The government underscored that proposals for relaxing restrictions step-by-step based on criteria were under consideration and “implementation will be considered after full review” by the concerned administrative units of the districts.
The local administration was looking into it and only after that an official decision will be announced, said the Thackeray government. BJP leader and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis soon mocked the Maharashtra government’s flip-flop.
