In the wake of an increase in COVID-19 cases, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has asked district collectors to remind people to wear masks in public places

In the face of an increase in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directed district collectors on Wednesday to encourage people to wear masks at least in enclosed venues such as cinema halls, auditoriums, and offices. At the virtual conference with the district collectors, he remarked, "It is advisable to wear masks in public settings." This is significant because, at the Task Force's Monday meeting with CM, it was urged that the usage of masks in confined spaces be made mandatory to prevent the spread of virus infection.

 

Thackeray requested that district collectors quickly enhance COVID-19 testing to at least double current levels, improve ILI and SARI surveillance, and deliver a sample of genomic sequencing anytime three to seven cases are found in a cluster. CM also called for an improvement in IEC and COVID Appropriate Behaviour, as well as the completion of existing work on oxygen plants.

 

Thackeray also emphasised the importance of maintaining the oxygen reserve generated. Vaccination should be pushed because Maharashtra falls short of the national average in every category. "Do not declare all government hospitals to be COVID hospitals in a frenzy. As hospitalization is likely to be fewer, try to pool patients at a few locations," Thackeray advised. He also requested that the district collectors make available cash from the District Planning Development Council (DPDC) and other local sources to complete the improvements identified in the hospital's electric/fire audit. This is critical to avoid the fires that have occurred in hospitals across the state in the last two years.

 

On Wednesday, CM opted to meet with district collectors on a day when there were 186 new COVID-19 instances reported. In the state, there are 955 active patients. Between April 20 and April 26, the Public Health Department reported 1037 new cases, 672 of whom were in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Ratnagiri. Dhule, Pune, Akola, Sindhudurg, Hingoli, Mumbai, Parbhani, Gondia and Kolhapur have greater positivity rates than the state's weekly positivity rate of 0.73 percent.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @CMOMaharashtra