Lockdown in eight days if people don't follow Covid norms in the state, warns CM Uddhav Thackeray

In a stern warning, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said there will be a total lockdown in the state if people don't start wearing face masks.

The statement comes amid increasing cases of coronavirus in Maharashtra.

He further said that 'lockdown will start from tomorrow evening wherever needed'.

"Lockdown will not start all of a sudden. We aren’t putting a stop to any development works. Lockdown will start from tomorrow evening wherever needed," said CM Thackeray.

CM Uddhav Thackeray's ultimatum to the people comes just a little after a total lockdown has been imposed in Amravati, Achalpur cities of the state for a week. A partial lockdown has been imposed in five districts including Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim and Yavatmal.

"Amravati has around 1000 cases today, this is more than what it had last year during peak. From 40,000 active case there are 53,000 active cases in the state. Amravati, Yawatmal, Akola, Buldhana and Washmi are critical areas," he



said.

Thackeray added that Maharashtra today reported 6,971 new cases of coronavirus.

"Coronavirus started in March this year. There was no medicine then, there is no medicine now. But we have a vaccine. In Maharashtra, there are 9 lakh beneficiaries of Covid vaccine till now. There were myths regarding the vaccine but with 9 lakh beneficiaries those concerns are resolved," said Thackeray.

CM Thackeray urged people to wear mask saying that it is the only defence against coronavirus.

"What to do till we get the vaccine? Mask is our defence in this war. Please wear a mask," he said.

"When we eased restrictions we did with the hope that rules would be abided by. But slowly we felt there was no coronavirus and we and many of us stopped wearing masks," said Thackeray.

He added that the situation of health infrastructure in the state has improved now as compared to last year. "We have more beds and testing centres now. But I don’t want to boast about the preparations," he said.