Mumbai: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, on Wednesday stated that there won’t be any relaxations on the covid restrictions, at least till mid February. There is a lot of spike being witnessed in the cases nationwide. The state’s health department has alerted the cabinet that Maharashtra might witness a spike in the hospitalization, in January end or February.
The smaller cities have reported an increase in the cases, said Tope. The priority is to control the situation. By imposing curbs the spread of virus can be contained, and by ramping up vaccination the situation can be brought under control, experts have stated.
He said he has asked for 50 lakh doses of Covisheild and 40 lakh does of Covaxin during a meeting with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. “The cases have seen a decline in the last two days, but this does not mean that the curve is flattening. There are 46,000 cases today. So there is no flattening of the curve,” Tope told reporters.
The health minister said strict steps will be taken to ensure people take the jab. “It is not right that people take concessions like ration that the state offers and do not come forward to get vaccinated. We may not be able to make vaccination mandatory, but districts have been asked to take strict steps in the interest of larger public health to ensure everyone is vaccinated,” Tope said.
The daily requirement of medical oxygen in the state has witnessed a rise, a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said, adding that the present demand is 400 metric tonnes.
“If the oxygen demand rises to 700 metric tonnes, then stricter curbs will be required. Considering this fact, the district administration should expedite vaccination and take necessary steps,” Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said during the meeting. Along with the urban centres, the rural parts are also affected by COVID-19, he said.
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