Thread by @CMOMaharashtra

CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’s address to state today;

I got several calls today asking me if a lockdown will be imposed from midnight.

Firstly, I am not here to scare you. I am going to lay the present situation in front of you.

It has been a year since we started our battle with this virus.

Some time ago, it felt that we had managed to conquer the virus together. In January-February, it seemed that COVID was a thing of the past.

Unfortunately, the fears of experts has proved right. From March, the second wave of Corona, which is more severe than the previous one, began.

I will not answer the question about a fresh lockdown for now. But I feel I must appraise you about the present situation.

When the pandemic began last year, we had just two labs for testing. Now, we have 500.

In Mumbai, we conduct around 50k tests daily. The daily testing capacity in the State has been increased to 1.82 lakh.

We plan to increase this further to 2.5 lakh.

According to the Centre’s guidelines, 70% of these tests will be the gold-standard RT-PCR tests.

This figure of 70% tests has been maintained throughout by Maharashtra. We will never compromise on the quality of tests and we will not hide any numbers.

We did not have even 10,000 beds when the pandemic began.

Now, the number of beds has been increased to 3.75 lakh. It includes isolation, oxygen, ICU and dialysis beds. Maharashtra may be the first state to start field hospitals like the Army does.

Even then I had said that the lockdown is meant to break the transmission chain and add capacity in the health sector.

From 300-350 daily cases in January-end the number of patients in Mumbai has increased to 8,500.

Then, the daily cases were around 24,000, and now it stands at about 43,000 as on 1st April. The number may cross 45,000 today.

62% of isolation beds & 48% ICU beds are occupied. 25% of beds with oxygen facilities & around 25% of the beds with ventilators are occupied.

I have already directed for infrastructure to be added wherever necessary. We can increase the beds, ventilators, oxygen supply and medicine supply. But what about doctors, nurses and medical staff?

For one year, our doctors, nurses, staff, police, ASHA and Anganwadi workers and revenue staff have been working around the clock. Some of them have also been infected by COVID. Even after recovery, patients suffer from fatigue and breathlessness for some time.

Just two or three days after recovery, they have been reporting to work. They are testing people for COVID, going door-to-door. They are tired and still not taking a pause. Aren’t we going to give them some respite?

There are some who say we must boost vaccination. We are doing it.

Yesterday, we crossed a milestone by vaccinating 3 lakh people in a day. We have vaccinated 65 lakh people till yesterday.

We have sought more vaccine doses and the Centre is giving them. Once this happens, we will be able to vaccinate 6 to 7 lakh people daily.

Let me reiterate, we will have to use a mask, wash hands frequently and maintain physical distance even after vaccination.

We will have to announce some stringent restrictions. I will announce them in a day or two. We will have to curb unnecessary crowding in public places.

I am speaking to experts, political leaders and journalists in a day or two. I am eager to evolve an alternate solution.

Today, I am giving an indication for a complete lockdown, but not announcing it formally. If things do not improve visibly in a couple of days and if no other solution is found, we will have to announce another lockdown like it is being done globally.

There have been two or three waves of Corona in the world. We must resolve to fight this wave and prevent any further waves of this pandemic.

You consider me to be a family member. I am responsible for your well-being. I am not bothered by any criticism.

The Government will never fall short when it comes to health infrastructure and the well-being of its people.

I am sure that you will co-operate like you did last year. Let us together prepare to fight and win the battle that lies ahead.

Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra!