As New Mutant Spreads, Maharashtra Prepares for a 3rd Wave of Covid

The second wave is subsidizing, but people are at it again, they are busy inviting the third wave. In a recent BJP protests, where thousands of workers from Navi Mumbai participated against the naming of a New International Airport. This is at a time when Maharashtra has been reporting a surge in its Covid tally. 

 

To stop the situation from getting out of the hand the Uddhav Thackeray Government has decided not to lift Covid curbs after Delta Plus cases have been reported in 7 districts of the state now. A new order this evening imposes uniform level 3 Covid restrictions across India’s most Covid affected state. As of now under level 3 restrictions services will be allowed to function till 4 pm on all days but malls, theaters, multiplexes will remain closed.

 

Restaurants will be only allowed to operate at 50% capacity till 4 pm, after that only takeaway and parcel services will be allowed. Transport facilities will continue to face the same curbs; local trains are only being used for essentials. Maharashtra Government which was suggesting that on 27th June i.e. on Sunday, they would lift some curbs, appears to have now decided to wait a bit longer. Till further orders, there will be no relaxations in curbs across India’s most Covid affected state. 

 

There is a lot of concern over the delta plus variant in the country, several cases in different states that have been confirmed. The State of Maharashtra has recorded over 20 of these Delta plus variants. What is also added to worry in Maharashtra is after a downward trend for the last many weeks the state has now recorded a sudden surge in Covid cases. 

 

On Friday, the state reported nearly 10,000 fresh cases. It has over one lakh twenty thousand active cases. And not to forget the state is facing a new threat in the form of delta plus variant. So far Maharashtra has over 20 known cases of the mutated virus. 

The government has ordered the local administration to decide on restrictions based on the situation in their districts. The government has also made it clear that opening up should not be done in a hurry. Meanwhile, health experts are predicting a third wave in the next two to three weeks. 

 

Additional stringent measures are being seen as the need of the hour. The Maharashtra state government proposes to put new curbs on the movement of people. The inter-state and intra-state travel and crowding at marketplaces. The fear is if more relaxations are given now, there could be a sudden spike in Covid cases.