Mumbai: Notwithstanding the threat of Delta Plus variant and the emergence of a possible third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government is actively considering resuming classes at medical colleges with a rider that students, teaching and non-teaching staff should have taken both doses of Covid-19. After his weekly review of the pandemic at Pune, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the government is mulling the proposal to ensure that the state does not face any shortage of doctors in future.
‘’We are thinking of taking a decision to allow classes to resume at medical colleges both government and private. However, the only condition is that students, teaching and non teaching staff should have taken two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine,’’ said Pawar.
Pawar said every year thousands of doctors pass out of medical colleges and if classes are not conducted new medical professionals will not pass out causing a shortage especially during the present COVID 19 crisis. He added that he will soon have meetings with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh on this issue.
Pawar’s statement came on a day when cumulatively 3,2721,251 people were administered COVID 19 vaccine doses as on date. Of which, 2,62,52,955 had received the first dose and 64,68,296 second dose. On July 1, a total of 2,74,902 people were vaccinated in 2,132 sessions in the state.
DCM Ajit Pawar, who is the Pune district guardian minister, said the Pune city will continue to have strict lockdown Level 3 restrictions as the positivity rate has surged at 5.3% from 4.6% ‘’There was a proposal to allow reopening of malls. However, the officials objected to it citing the central air conditioning system in malls which may lead to spurt in virus infection,’’ he added.
Pawar said the players above 18 years are allowed to play indoor games if they are vaccinated. He noted that the district and civil administration have been instructed to ramp up oxygen manufacturing capacity three times to tackle the third wave.
What will continue in Pune, what will be closed?
All essential shops under Pune Municipal Corporation will be open till 4 pm during the week
All shops, except for essential services, will be open from Monday to Friday from 4 pm while they will be closed on Saturday to Sunday
Malls, cinemas completely closed
Restaurants, bars, food courts from Monday to Friday at 4 pm
Private offices at work at fifty percent capacity until 4 pm
Government offices related to essential services to function with 100% capacity
Gardens, grounds, jogging, running all day of the week from 5 am to 9 am
