15-day curfew in Maharashtra from April 14; essential services exempted
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday announced 15-day curfew in the state and sought central help in airlifting medical oxygen as Covid-19 cases continue to spike in the state, putting a burden on its health infrastructure. Public transport will continue but travel in suburban trains and buses will be only for people giving essential services. The tightening of curbs comes into effect on Wednesday night. On Tuesday a record 60,212 cases were reported in the state and the number of active cases has increased to over 500,000. While the state is getting oxygen by road, Thackeray has requested the Indian Air Force help to airlift supplies. “If we do not break the chain now we will get strangled by the chain,” he said while announcing the new measures. Last week the state government had closed cinema halls, malls, multiplexes, and places of religious worship. These restrictions will continue. Restaurants and bars will continue to function for takeaway services