The coronavirus lockdown in Maharashtra will continue even after September 1, said the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday.
CM said although many states have unlocked and resumed operations but Maharashtra won't rush into unlocking everything. CM emphasized on slowly unlocking things one after another. What is opened once, should not be closed again, he said.
CM Uddhav Thackeray on Monday had chaired a review meeting to assess preventive measures taken by Thane Municipal Corporation to curtail the spread of Coronavirus. Minister Eknath Shinde, Minister Jitendra Awhad & Aaditya Thackeray were also present in the meeting.
When will schools and colleges open?
The state government has no plans to open schools from 1st September. Online classes are currently underway. Besides, the academic year should be kept from January to December, the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has proposed to the Central Government. The admissions for Class 11 has already started but there is still confusion about when the new academic year will start.
E-pass The Union government has asked all state governments to scrap the requirement of e-pass for such travel. However, Thackeray has claimed that the time for its scrapping has not come yet. The Maharashtra government has allowed travel in state-run buses without e-pass though. It is likely to be discussed and decided at Wednesday's cabinet meeting.
According to sources, given the growing number of corona patients at present, restaurants and cinemas in the state are unlikely to open. However, a decision on reopening religious places and indoor gymnasiums with certain conditions could be made in the next two to three days.
The local trains will continue to remain closed for common commuters.