Maharashtra Covid-19 Cases Rise To 556, Phase-Wise Easing Of Lockdown Likely
The lockdown will have to be lifted in phases as “not all people can be allowed to come on the streets in one go”, minister says.
The Maharashtra government is weighing the possibility of easing the ongoing 21-day coronavirus lockdown in phases, the state’s health minister said.
As of 9:45 am on April 5, 2020, Maharashtra had a total of 556 Covid-19 cases—490 active, 42 discharged and 24 deaths—even as India's count rose to 3,374 with a death toll of 77. Globally, the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.2 million people and killed over 50,000.
"Discussion is on about whether the lockdown can be relaxed in phases. Strict rules will have to be followed in the containment zones," Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said in a live webcast on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, he had said that the state may not lift the lockdown on April 14 if people did not observe social distancing and the number of cases kept rising.
In any case, the lockdown will have to be lifted in phases as "not all the people can be allowed to come on to the streets in one go", the health minister had stated.
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The minister, in the webcast, also urged people to take steps to boost immunity. "Eat well and exercise indoors," he said. "Many Ayurveda practitioners want to recommend treatment for coronavirus. They should post whatever information they have about alternative medicine on the AYUSH portal.