Maha eyes to extend lockdown in COVID-19 hotspots till May 31

Mumbai, May 14 () The Maharashtra government onThursday expressed its intent to extend till May 31 thelockdown in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Pune, Solapur,Aurangabad and Malegaon, which have emerged as COVID-19hotspots in the state, a senior official said on Thursday.

The possibility of extending the restrictions at theseplaces was discussed during a meeting chaired by ChiefMinister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday.

"The government expressed its intent to extend thelockdown in MMR, Pune, Solapur, Aurangabad and Malegaon townin Nashik district till May 31. The state's view will beconveyed to the Centre in writing," the official said.

"In the rest of the state, the guidelines of theCentre will be implemented when they are announced before thelockdown 3.0 ends on May 17," he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Water ResourcesMinister Jayant Patil, Urban Development Minister EknathShinde, Industries Mnister Subhash Desai, Revenue MinisterBalasaheb Thorat and PWD Minister Ashok Chavan attended themeeting chaired by the chief minister.

The COVID-19 tally in Maharashtra till Wednesday nightstood at 25,922 and the number of fatalities at 975, withMumbai alone accounting for 15,747 cases and 596 deaths.

The nationwide shutdown, which was first enforced onMarch 24, has been extended twice, on April 14 and May 4. Thethird phase will end on May 17.

In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, PrimeMinistet Narendra Modi said there will be a fourth phase ofthe lockdown, which will be very different from the earlierthree phases. MRNP NP