During a meet on Sunday, members of Maharashtra's task force on Covid-19 advised CM Uddhav Thackeray to order a statewide lockdown to contain the spread of infection.
aharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting with the state's task force on Covid-19 on Sunday. CM Thackeray then held a review meet with his Cabinet ministers to discuss measures to contain the spread of infection in the state which is witnessing a sharp surge in new cases.
Held virtually, the meeting of Maharashtra's task force on Covid-19 was aimed at deliberating the need for another statewide lockdown. Dr Pradeep Vyas, Dr TP Lahane, Dr Sanjay Oak, Dr Avinash Supe, Dr Shashank Joshi and Dr Rahul Pandit were among members of the task force present in the meeting.
Experts told the Maharashtra government that a lockdown is necessary to break the chain of transmission.
CM Uddhav Thackeray directed the task force to draft more comprehensive SOPs for the state, while also instructing district administrations to increase the availability of oxygen and other medical facilities.
"We have spoken and taken action on a number of issues such as making changes in office hours, emphasizing work from home, setting peak hours for suburban railways in Mumbai. Basically, the number of patients is increasing rapidly. Individuals without symptoms are more likely to spread the infection." he said.
Task force members divided on duration of lockdown
Apart from the option of another lockdown, restrictive measures to curb the spread of infection were also discussed during the meeting on Sunday.
Sources told India Today that CM Uddhav Thackeray was in favour of an 8-day lockdown while the task force suggested that the same should be imposed for at least 14 days.
There were differences in opinion even among members of the task force with at least three members siding with the Chief Minister and others advocating for a 14-day lockdown.
Issues like availability of oxygen, use of Remdesivir, availability of beds, treatment methods, enhancement of facilities, imposition of restrictions and strict punitive action were also discussed during the meeting.
Experts also said that about 95 per cent of Covid-19 patients can be cured by proper treatment at home and only critically-ill patients need hospitalisation.
At least 75 per cent of the 20,250 ICU hospital beds for coronavirus patients in Maharashtra are full, said the Health Secretary. The official also added that 40 per cent of the 67,000 oxygen beds are also full.
There is a scarcity of hospital beds in 11-12 districts and isolated beds have been arranged in railway bogies in Nandurbar district, the Health Secretary said.
Liquid oxygen plant in each district
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the state government is mulling setting up a liquid oxygen plant in each district.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte had said earlier, 980 metric tons out of 1,200 metric tons of oxygen in the state are currently being used for medical purposes. Efforts are now being made to ramp up production and to procure oxygen from Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
Provisions will be made for electronic crematoriums to reduce overcrowding during funerals, he said. Tope added that experts have advised the state government to make Remdesivir available to private hospitals through district collectors.
Rajesh Tope also thanked the central government for prohibiting the export of anti-viral drug Remdesivir.
"Discussions will be held with different departments and the Chief Minister is likely to hold a Cabinet meet on Wednesday," Rajesh Tope said when asked about the possibility of a lockdown in Maharashtra.
He went on to say that a final call in this regard could also be taken during a meeting of Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Monday.
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