Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has on Tuesday urged the administrative bodies to remain vigilant in the wake of the new fast-spreading coronavirus strain detected in the United Kingdom.
Reviewing the coronavirus situation and the preparation for vaccination in the state with Health Minister Rajesh Tope, BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal, member of state's COVID-19 task force Dr Shashank Joshi and others, Thackeray has asked to increase the number of tests and make the use of masks mandatory. He also warned everyone to be aware of the danger ahead.
Reacting to the detection of a mutated strain of coronavirus, the Chief Minister also asked all the agencies to work even harder. "Adequate supply of oxygen, ventilators, medicines should be maintained, segregation facilities should be provided. Increase the rate of treatment and testing at the rate at of which this virus spreads," he said.
Thackeray has also asked the doctors in the COVID-19 task force to study whether there are genetic changes in the coronavirus locally.
Besides, the Maharashtra government has imposed a night curfew in all municipal corporation limits from December 22 to January 5 in the wake of the new strain of coronavirus in the UK. The curfew will be from 11 pm to 6 am.
Additionally, the government has imposed a 14-day institutional quarantine for passengers arriving from Europe and the Gulf.
‘‘Due to this new strain of coronavirus, extra precautions are being taken in the state and we must be more vigilant for the next 15 days. The new coronavirus strain found in the UK is spreading rapidly and the danger of the virus will be known in the next few days, so the state is being put on high alert,” said Thackeray on Monday.
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