Mumbai| Maharashtra’s CM Uddhav Thackeray announced on Thursday that grocery shops, medical stores and other essential services are allowed to remain functioning 24/7 in the State as it enters the second day of lockdown.

Thackeray made the announcement after meeting with senior officials of the State in connection with the Corona deployment plan. The decision was taken as large crowds of people had been venturing out to stock supplies.

Thackeray held discussions with senior officials who are in charge of the special control room for coronavirus set up at the Mantralaya (state secretariat) about how to ensure smooth supply of essential goods earlier in the day, it added.

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Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh assured that there would be no restriction on the timings of essential service shops and food delivery boys will not face any difficulty in carrying out their duties.

The State is also keen on implementing social distancing, cleanliness and fumigation in such stores. The meeting also decided to follow the guidelines given by the government on corona control.

However, shop-keepers must ensure that social distancing is maintained and rules about hygiene and sanitizing are followed, the CMO statement said. Maharashtra has 125 coronavirus cases, highest in the country, as of Thursday.