INDIA: With the government expected to announce new guidelines for the next phase of lockdown today, Maharashtra joins Punjab, Telangana and Mizoram to extend the lockdown till 31st May.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta has issued an order notifying an extension of the lockdown, the official said. “The calibrated phase-wise relaxation/lifting of lockdown orders will be notified in due course,” the order said. The present lockdown was valid till May 17.
“Lockdown 3.0 ends today. Lockdown 4.0 will come into effect tomorrow and will be valid till May 31. There will be some relaxations in the fourth phase,” he said.
The Lockdown 4.0 will be implemented with strict measures in containment zones like Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Pune, Malegaon, Aurangabad and Solapur until May 31. In areas that are demarcated as green and orange zones, relaxations will be allowed with guidelines.
Whereas Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday evening said the coronavirus lockdown in the state will continue till May 31, though his government will lift the curfew restrictions. “From May 18, there will be no curfew in the state. But the lockdown will be there till May 31,” said the chief minister.
Meanwhile The total number of coronavirus cases in the country has risen to 90,927 including 2872 deaths. Maharashtra is the worst hit state with 30,706 confirmed cases and 1135 deaths.
The nationwide shutdown, which was first enforced on March 25, has been extended twice, on April 14 and May 4. The third phase will end on May 17.