Maharashtra: COVID-19 Restrictions to Extend up to June 1 Due to Surge in Cases

Mumbai- Due to the massive surge in the cases of novel coronavirus infections in the state, the Maharashtra government has decided to extend the existing Covid-19 restrictions in the state until 7 a.m. on June 1st. In addition, the state has made a negative RT-PCR report mandatory for anyone entering the state. The test report must be submitted 48 hours prior to the date of entry into the jurisdiction. Read more

As per the latest order, the restrictions imposed through the previous orders for people arriving from places of "sensitive origin" will continue to be in force, extending to everyone arriving into the state from any part of the country. 

The state health department and ministers, due to the unprecedented surge in the COVID-19 cases, suggested extending the lockdown in Maharashtra for another 15 days at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday. Read more

Fears over the outbreak of the third wave of the pandemic prompted the extension of the lockdown-like restrictions until May 15. 

Owing to a shortage of vaccines, Maharashtra has temporarily called off COVID-19 vaccination for people aged 18 to 44. However, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, has promised Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray that 1.5 crore doses of Covishield will be delivered after May 20, the state's health minister Rajesh Tope said. ''We will start the vaccination for the 18-44 years age group after we receive the vaccine,'' he added. 

"Maharashtra's Covid-19 growth rate is merely half of the country's daily growth rate. The state's per day growth rate is 0.8 percent as against the country's rate of 1.4 percent. The state is carrying out around two lakh tests on a daily basis while per million testings is around 2.50 lakh. It is a very good sign for us," remarked health Minister Rajesh Tope. 

On Wednesday, the state recorded 46,781 new COVID19 cases bringing the total number of cases to 52,26,710 and 816 COVID-induced fatalities, bringing the total death count in the state to 78,007. At the moment, the positivity rate is 17.36%, while the recovery rate is 88.1%. 

According to data from the Union health ministry, Maharashtra, which is the state with the most daily new Covid-19 infections in the country, recorded a steep decline of more than 30,000 active cases on Wednesday.

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