'Impose complete lockdown in Mumbai', says Mayor Kishori Pednekar amid rising COVID-19 cases

The coronavirus situation in Maharashtra has spiralled out of control. Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar urged the state government to impose a complete lockdown in India's financial capital - Mumbai - amid rising COVID-19 cases.

Pednekar said, "95% of Mumbaikars are adhering to COVID-19 restrictions. The remaining 5% of people who are not following restrictions are causing problems to others. I think a complete lockdown should be imposed looking at the current COVID-19 situation."

She noted that all the people who are returning from the Kumbh Mela will distribute corona as 'prasad' and should be quarantined in their respective states. Pednekar further said that the authorities in Mumbai are thinking of placing returnees from the Kumbh Mela under quarantine.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has put "lockdown-like" restrictions in place since April 14 due to the exponential rise in coronavirus infections in the state. This lockdown which came into force at 8pm on April 14 will remain effective till 7am on May 1. As per the new norms, essential services (medical stores, hospitals, and supply of medicines), food delivery, banking, and financial services takeaway services for roadside eateries and house-helps are allowed during this period.

Services such as private coaching classes, spas, colleges, schools, beaches, salons, gyms, swimming pools, cinema halls and drama theatres shall remain shut till May 1. Shooting for films, TV serials and advertisements have also been stopped and no religious, cultural, social and political functions will be allowed in Maharashtra till May.

Edited by Mehak Agarwal

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