Maharashtra Lockdown Extended by two weeks: Health minister Rajesh Tope

Mumbai: Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope Friday said that the lockdown-like restrictions in Maharashtra are extended for the next two weeks he told to media.

A fresh set of guidelines will be issued on June 1, No relaxation will be given in the areas where the number of patients and positivity rate are still high and hospital bed availability is an issue, he said.

“But in the areas where the situation has improved, certain guidelines (easing the curbs) can be issued,” he added. Earlier today, hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised questions on the Centre’s Covid-19 vaccine strategy, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that India will be fully vaccinated against Covid by the end of 2021. “Health Ministry gave a roadmap for producing 216 crore doses by then,” he said.

Gandhi in a virtual press conference said the “evolving” virus was strengthening by the day, and the central government’s ignorance of its nature was giving the virus space to grow and spread.