Maharashtra to extend lockdown in Mumbai, other cities

In view of the exponential spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state government has decided to extend the lockdown in Mumbai and a few other cities till May 31, reports said on Friday (May 15).

According to reports, apart from Mumbai, the lockdown, ending May 17, will be extended in hotspots like Mumbai, Pune, Malegaon, Aurangabad and Solapur. Mumbai which reported 1,000 cases on Thursday (May 14), accounts for 15,747 cases of the state’s total positive cases of 26,000. There have been more than 1,000 deaths in the state so far.

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“In the rest of the state, the guidelines of the Centre will be implemented when they are announced before the lockdown 3.0 ends on May 17,” PTI quoted a state government official as saying on Thursday.

Maharashtra Industry Minister Subhash Desai told NDTV that the state also plans to announce sops for the industry to revive economic activities.

The announcement came after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a cabinet meet in this regard on Thursday.

Maharashtra is the second state to extend the lockdown, albeit partially, after Telangana.