The Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government in a late-night order on Friday announced a five-step unlock plan. Under the new guidelines, the districts have been divided into five levels based on weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancies. The state government said that districts in level 1 will have minimum restrictions, while curbs will go on increasing with each level.
Thackeray on Sunday said the five-step unlock plan was a "calculated risk", however, he has urged people to take care of themselves. "Nothing is going to be eased immediately. Some criteria and levels have been fixed and the local administration will take decisions on whether to ease restrictions or further tighten them," he said.
Giving instructions to the district admins on Sunday, Thackeray said the war against COVID-19 isn't over yet. He gave strict directions to ensure that restrictions are not relaxed yet and that there will be no crowds in public functions and ceremonies at any level under any circumstances.
The Chief Minister said that although the state has been able to reduce the number of patients while battling the second wave, the danger of the third wave remains. "Just as we monitor the water levels in rivers and dams in our respective areas every monsoon and take immediate steps to evacuate civilians or take other steps if the water-level rises above a certain line, these five levels will determine whether or not to impose restrictions," he added.
Thakceray further told the district admins to not "succumb to any pressure" and impose restrictions if the infection rises. He has also directed them to spread awareness in the villages as cases are on the rise in rural areas. Incidentally, the Chief Minister has recently launched a 'corona-free village' contest with prizes up to ₹50 lakh.
