Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray - likely to make a final decision soon on restrictions

Owing to the increasing number of Covid instances in Maharashtra, along with the Omicron cases, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the taskforce members led by Dr. Sanjay Oak have did admit that the scenario is concerning and have made a compelling case for imposing additional restrictions within the next day or two. Thackeray has cancelled a cabinet meeting to meet with the taskforce and officials from the public health department and will make the final decision on the implementation of new curbs, which will primarily be targeted at reducing crowding and infection. The taskforce, however, has stated that a total lockdown similar to that of 2020 is not necessary, but that additional limits should be implemented.

Instead of inoculating children in classrooms, the taskforce decided that youngsters aged 15 to 18 might be taken in groups to vaccination centres that administer doses to adults. The number of Covid-positive patients increased to 5,368 on Thursday, up from 3,900 on Wednesday, according to Maharashtra's Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope, and the increase is cause for concern. "Everyone agreed at the taskforce meeting that the government needed to act quickly to stop the virus from spreading and infecting people." "The Chief Minister will set new restrictions," he stated.

Tope went on to say that there was also unanimity on not holding social, religious, or political gatherings in enclosed rooms since they could spread illness. It was determined, according to Tope, that testing laboratories would utilise special Omicron test kits to determine whether the infection was caused by the Delta variant or Omicron. Doctors will then be able to determine the best course of action for their patients. On Thursday, the state's Omicron cases reached a record high of 198, with 190 of them in Mumbai alone, taking the total to 450.

In addition, the government has decided to limit the amount of Molnupiravir that can be prescribed. A drug to treat Omicron-affected persons has been approved by the Indian government and the taskforce. Hospitals will need to keep a sufficient supply of supplies on hand. "The importance of carefully rationing and regulating the supply of Molnupiravir drugs was emphasised," Tope said.

According to the minister, the government would concentrate on testing, treatment, and immunisation. "Children aged 15 to 18 will be vaccinated on a schedule so that they can be transported in groups to vaccination centres rather than having driven in schools and universities," says the statement. It was determined that there was no immediate need to close schools. "The government will aim to complete immunisation of 15- to 18-year-olds within a defined time limit," Tope added.

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