As Covid cases steadily decline by the day, Maharashtra Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Friday that the third wave of the pandemic was likely to end by the second or third week of March. Further, he said that the state government had no plans to impose additional restrictions but added that the existing curbs would be relaxed in phases.
Tope said the daily caseload has dipped below 15,000 from 48,000 at the peak of the wave and cases have dropped substantially in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Raigad.
“We are noticing that the number of corona patients is declining. The number of daily cases has fallen from 48,000 to 15,000. In areas where there were a large number of patients, the numbers are now declining,” said Tope.
“In some places, there is growth in the number of cases and there will be peaks. But after that, the number is is expected to decrease again,” he said, adding that in a big city like Mumbai, the daily number of patients has come down to 500-600. The graph of corona patients in the state is declining, and the state would witness a steady decrease in the number of Covid patients in phases, he said.
Tope made it amply clear that the government would not introduce additional curbs but reduce them in the days to come, in phases. “Two days ago, the state cabinet discussed the restrictions introduced in the wake of the third wave. However, curbs have been eased in some places and will be gradually reduced across the state as the number of cases go down. The experts have said that the third wave is expected to end by mid-March, so the state government will reduce the restrictions,” he said.
Further, Tope made a strong case for the commencement of vaccination in the 12-15 age bracket. “The Centre must start the process of vaccinating children in the 12-15 age segment. Maharashtra is ready with the health infrastructure to vaccinate this age group,” he said.
