News Analysis India

Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • More states announce easing of COVID-induced curbs from Monday 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI/ CHENNAI/ MUMBAI: Haryana and Sikkim were the latest to extend lockdown from Monday but have eased the curbs like several other states including Maharashtra that have announced cautious steps towards restarting or scaling up activities after over a month following a decline in COVID cases.

    “The state government is taking a calculated risk and hence people have to take care of themselves. Nothing is going to be eased immediately,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said ahead of the start of the ‘five-tier’ unlock process based on weekly positivity rate and occupancy of oxygen beds in districts.

    READ MORE: Maharashtra to lift lockdown-like restrictions in 18 out of 36 districts from June 4

    Thackeray emphasised that the local administration will take decisions on whether to ease restrictions and further tighten them.

    In Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, restaurants, shops selling non-essential items and public places are set to reopen from Monday but malls, theatres and multiplexes will continue to remain shut as the metropolis has been categorised under level 3 of the ‘unlock’ plan.

    However, the national capital, which began the unlock exercise from May 31 will see further easing of restrictions from Monday, with the government allowing resumption of metro services at 50 per cent capacity and reopening of markets and malls on an odd-even basis.

    READ MORE: Malls to reopen, shops to operate under odd-even format as Haryana extends lockdown till June 7 

    Officials said teams of police and district administration have been deployed across the city to enforce COVID-appropriate behaviour.

    Possible super spreader areas like prominent markets, malls and liquor stores that attract large crowds have been marked for strict compliance with precautions like the use of face masks and social distancing.

    In June, several states and Union Territories have begun easing the lockdown restrictions which they first started imposing in mid-April as the second COVID wave hit the country, but the Centre has cautioned that the unlock process has to be slow and that COVID-appropriate behaviour needs to be strictly followed.

    ALSO READ: CM Stalin extends Covid-19 lockdown in Tamil Nadu for one more week with a few relaxations

    “Whatever we know from possible scenarios presented by eminent people, it (COVID) will decline and June will be much much more better but the concerns are when we open up, how do we behave because the virus has not gone anywhere,” NITI Aayog member (Health) V K Paul had said last week.

    The Uttar Pradesh government also extended the relaxations in the coronavirus curfew to four more districts on Sunday.

    With this, curbs have been eased in 71 districts where shops and markets outside containment zones will be allowed to open for five days a week.

    While the count of active cases has fallen below the 600-mark in these districts, a watch is being kept on the remaining four districts of Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Meerut and Saharanpur, and a decision on these districts may be taken on Tuesday, an official statement said The Haryana government said it was extending the lockdown, clamped in the state on May 3, till June 14 as a preventive and precautionary measure though the COVID positivity rate and the number of new Covid positive cases have declined.

    While further relaxations regarding the opening of shops and shopping malls have been given, religious places are also allowed to open now with 21 people at a time.

    Corporate offices can have 50 per cent attendance after adopting social distancing norms and gatherings of up to 21 people are allowed at weddings, funerals and cremations from the earlier 11.

    The Sikkim government, while announcing the state-wide lockdown for one more week till June 14, also allowed relaxation for shops selling groceries and hardware.

    Even as the COVID situation has relatively improved in most of the northern and western states, southern and eastern parts of the country are still reporting a high number of cases.

    Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin had announced the extension of the lockdown by a week till June 14 with some easing of restrictions from Monday, except in 11 districts where the number of new cases reported was still high.

    Earlier, neighbouring Karnataka had extended the lockdown till June 14. Himachal Pradesh and Goa had also extended the ‘Corona curfew’ till June 14 with some easing of curbs.

    Ladakh on Sunday announced a gradual unlocking after a month-long ‘corona curfew’ in the Union Territory.

    India reported 1,14,460 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 60 days, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 5.62 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    With the fresh cases, the total tally of coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 2,88,09,339. The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,46,759 with 2,677 daily deaths, the lowest in 42 days, while the active cases dropped below 15 lakh, the data updated at 8 am showed India had reported more than 88.

    82 lakh coronavirus infections in May alone during the raging second wave of COVID-19, accounting for 31.67 per cent of the over 2.8 crore cases reported in the country so far and making it the worst month of the pandemic.

    The month of May also saw 1,17,247 fatalities due to the disease, which is around 35.63 per cent of the total 3,29,100 deaths recorded so far.

    The daily cases peaked on May 7 when the country registered 4,14,188 infections in a span of 24 hours, while daily deaths were the highest on May 19 with India reporting 4,529 fatalities due to COVID-19.

    The active cases had peaked on May 10 at 37,45,237. Here is a look at coronavirus-induced restrictions/lockdown imposed by states and union territories: *Delhi will continue with lockdown with the second phase of easing of restrictions from June 7.

    *Haryana has extended lockdown till June 14 with some easing of restrictions.

    *Punjab has extended the coronavirus restrictions till June 10.

    *Uttar Pradesh has eased restrictions in 71 districts. Night curfew and weekend lockdown to remain in the state.

    *Bihar has extended lockdown till June 8.

    *Jharkhand has extended lockdown till June 10.

    * Odisha has extended lockdown till June 17.

    * West Bengal government extended ongoing COVID-19 restrictions till June 15.

    *Rajasthan has extended lockdown till June 8 but has eased some restrictions.

    * Madhya Pradesh has extended corona curfew with eased restrictions till June 15.

    The state has announced separate unlock guidelines for districts.

    *Gujarat has extended night curfew in 36 cities of the state for a week from June 4, with further relaxation in timings.

    *Chhattisgarh government has on May 31 extended lockdown till further orders.

    *Kerala has extended lockdown till June 9 with some concessions.

    *Tamil Nadu has extended the lockdown till June 14.

    *Puducherry has imposed lockdown till June 7.

    * Lakshadweep administration has extended lockdown till June 10.

    *Karnataka has announced an extension of lockdown till June 14.

    *Telangana has extended lockdown till June 9.

    * Andhra Pradesh has extended curfew till June 10.

    *Goa government has extended curfew till June 14.

    *Maharashtra has extended the lockdown-like restrictions till June 15, though they will be eased from June 7.

    *Assam has extended the restrictions till June 15 though on June 4 it increased the curfew relaxation by one hour.

    *Nagaland has extended the lockdown till June 11.

    *Mizoram has extended the lockdown, which was imposed in Aizawl and other district headquarters, till June 6.

    * Arunachal Pradesh has imposed complete lockdown in Anjaw, Dibang Valley, Lower Subansiri, Lohit and Tawang districts and the Capital Complex Region till June 7.

    *Manipur government has imposed curfew in seven districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Ukhrul, Thoubal, Kakching and Churachandpur till June 11.

    * Meghalaya extended lockdown in the worst-affected East Khasi Hills district till June 7.

    *Tripura government has extended corona curfew in Agartala Municipal Corporation areas and urban areas in the state till June 10.

    *Sikkim has extended lockdown till June 14.

    *Jammu and Kashmir administration has eased restrictions but night curfew and weekend lockdown will remain.

    *Uttarakhand has extended COVID curfew till June 8.

    *Himachal Pradesh government has extended the coronavirus curfew till June 14 with some relaxation.

    ALSO WATCH | Black, white and yellow fungal infections, explained 

  • Local authorities have to decide on easing curbs as per ground situation: Maharashtra CM

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday made it clear that the lockdown-like restrictions imposed in the state in April have not to be lifted yet, and the local authorities have to make a decision about easing or tightening the curbs based on the criteria fixed.

    His statement comes in the wake of the government’s announcement about the five-level plan to relax the restrictions in the state from Monday as per the weekly positivity rate and the occupancy of oxygen beds in a particular administrative unit. A notification about it had been issued late on Friday night.

    “After the June 4 notification regarding the criteria and fixing of five levels, there is a general perception that the lockdown-like curbs have been lifted. But the local administration has to decide about easing or making the curbs more stricter, if necessary,” he said.

    The five-level system was fixed to decide whether or not to put curbs, he said, adding that if the local administration has doubts over the criteria, then the current restrictions should continue.

    Thackeray was speaking to district collectors, divisional commissioners and police officials during a virtual meeting. He directed the bureaucrats to ensure there is no crowding and violation of COVID-19 norms anywhere in the state.

    The easing of restrictions based on the criteria of positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy under the ‘Break the Chain’ restrictions has to be decided by the local administration considering the ground situation.

    It has to be ensured that under no level, there is crowding in public gatherings, the chief minister said. The threat about the third wave of coronavirus is far from over, he added.

    As per the ‘unlock’ notification, areas with an infection positivity rate of five per cent or less and oxygen bed occupancy of less than 25 per cent will be in the first category and can open up completely.

    Whereas in the fifth category areas, with a positivity rate of more than 20 per cent, only essential shops will remain open and office attendance will be capped at 15 per cent.

  • ‘Have taken calculated risk’: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray asks industry to follow COVID protocol

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that though the state government has decided to relax the lockdown by reopening every sector, people should follow COVID-19 protocol so the government will not be forced to roll back the unlock procedure.

    Thackeray said that they are taking the calculated risk by reopening the economy, industrial sectors and entertainment sectors in a phase-wise manner. He said that this level of opening – from first to five model – is based on a scientific procedure.

    “We have taken the health aspect and local infrastructure in consider while starting the unlocking procedure. We have not relaxed everything. We are opening the economy with certain terms and conditions. The local administration will take decisions of opening the non-essential sectors and other businesses,” Thackeray said.

    “We should kill the snake (virus) and at the same time take precautions that the stick should not be also broken. The virus has spread speedily. Once things go out of hand, then it is very difficult for us to contain the spread of the virus. The lockdown has helped to break the chain of virus and contain the spread as well. If we would have not implemented lockdown, then the virus would have knocked us down,” said the chief minister.

    He said that people should understand the gravity of the situations and conduct themselves. “We do not want lockdown and knockdown. Thus people should compulsorily use the mask, wash their hands regularly, sanitize them and avoid crowded places till the situation is better. The danger is not yet over and hence, we have to take precautions and preventions. Apart from vaccinations, work from home concept should be also be implemented,” Thackeray said.

    Thackeray further added that the industry should function by following COVID-19 protocols strictly. “People who are working should stay close to work at work places only. Bio-bubble concept should be promoted as such measures will help to control the spread of the virus and at the same time help in continuing work as well,” Uddhav Thackeray said.

  • ‘Have taken calculated risk’: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray asks industry to follow COVID protocol

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that though the state government has decided to relax the lockdown by reopening every sector, people should follow COVID-19 protocol so the government will not be forced to roll back the unlock procedure.

    Thackeray said that they are taking the calculated risk by reopening the economy, industrial sectors and entertainment sectors in a phase-wise manner. He said that this level of opening – from first to five model – is based on a scientific procedure.

    “We have taken the health aspect and local infrastructure in consider while starting the unlocking procedure. We have not relaxed everything. We are opening the economy with certain terms and conditions. The local administration will take decisions of opening the non-essential sectors and other businesses,” Thackeray said.

    “We should kill the snake (virus) and at the same time take precautions that the stick should not be also broken. The virus has spread speedily. Once things go out of hand, then it is very difficult for us to contain the spread of the virus. The lockdown has helped to break the chain of virus and contain the spread as well. If we would have not implemented lockdown, then the virus would have knocked us down,” said the chief minister.

    He said that people should understand the gravity of the situations and conduct themselves. “We do not want lockdown and knockdown. Thus people should compulsorily use the mask, wash their hands regularly, sanitize them and avoid crowded places till the situation is better. The danger is not yet over and hence, we have to take precautions and preventions. Apart from vaccinations, work from home concept should be also be implemented,” Thackeray said.

    Thackeray further added that the industry should function by following COVID-19 protocols strictly. “People who are working should stay close to work at work places only. Bio-bubble concept should be promoted as such measures will help to control the spread of the virus and at the same time help in continuing work as well,” Uddhav Thackeray said.

  • Lust for power amid pandemic will lead to anarchy: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: In a veiled attack on former ally BJP, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said acting with “lust for power” during the coronavirus pandemic will lead to “anarchy”.

    Saving lives was the most important thing now, he said.

    Participating in an online interaction organised by Marathi daily Loksatta, Thackeray said people wouldn’t forgive him if he didn’t provide clarity on why he wanted power.

    “If people who voted for me do not survive the COVID- 19 pandemic, what is the use of power,” he said.

    “Acting with lust for power amid COVID-19 will lead to anarchy,” he said, without naming the opposition party.

    Becoming chief minister was never his goal, and his promise to his father, Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray on making a Sena worker chief minister “is yet to be fulfilled”, Thackeray said.

    “I was never politically inclined. I came into politics to help my father. A pandemic after 100 years happens during my tenure as CM. I have never shied away from responsibility.

    I am doing what I can to the best of my ability,” he said.

    Queried on whether the Sena’s alliance with the BJP, which ended on a bitter note post the 2019 Assembly polls, could be revived again, Thackeray said there was a trust deficit in the relations after the demise of BJP leaders Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde.

    “The BJP is now Delhi-centric. In an alliance, there has to be openness to air differences and resolve them.

    My new allies (NCP and Congress) treat me with respect. The MVA is an alliance where we had differences, so we are more open now,” he said.

    The alliance with the BJP saw its “golden period” when the two parties were in opposition with the saffron ideology holding them together and there was mutual trust and respect, Thackeray added.

    To another question, he said Congress chief Sonia Gandhi does call him often.

  • Maharashtra government fixes black fungus treatment rates in private hospitals

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: In view of the increasing black fungus (Mucormycosis) cases, the Maharashtra government has fixed medical treatment charges for private hospitals. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray cleared a notification of the health department fixing the rate cards for private hospitals on Friday.

    The state government said that post-COVID complications are increasing mainly among the co-morbidity cases and the black fungus disease has been identified among the diabetic, who recently recovered from COVID.

    The rates are: Rs 4,000 per bed for Class A city hospitals, Rs 3,000 for Class B city hospitals and Rs 2,400 for Class C city hospitals. “Bigger tests and investigations, as well as costly drugs, are excluded from these fixed charges,” it said.

    “The charges for the ICU without ventilator and Isolation are: Rs 7,500 for Class A city hospitals, Rs 5,500 for Class B city hospitals and Rs 4,500 for Class C city hospitals. The ICU with ventilator and isolation charges are Rs 9,000 for Class A,  Rs 6,700 for Class B and Rs 5,400 for Class C,” said the order.

    The state government has also fixed the cost of surgeries. There are 28 types of surgeries at Rs 10, 000 to Rs 1 lakh for Class A cities, Rs 7,500 to Rs 75,000 for Class B cities and Rs 6,000 to Rs 60,000 for Class C cities.

    Class A cities include Mumbai and metropolitan areas (Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan Dombivali, Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation area, Ambernath, Kulgaon Badlapur, Panvel Municipal Corporation), Pune and Pune metropolitan area, Nagpur (Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Digdoh, Wadi).

    Class B cities include Nashik, Amravati, Aurangabad, Bhiwandi, Solapur, Kolhapur, Vasai-Virar, Malegaon, Nanded, Sangli. Class C includes cities not included in A and B lists.

    Free of cost in government hospitals, says health minister

    The state government has decided to make treatment of black fungus free in government hospitals under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Health Scheme. Health Minister Rajesh Tope said such cases are increasing and many are opting for private hospitals for treatment.

    “We have received complaints that many private hospitals are charging exorbitantly from black fungus patients. The government has taken a decision to reduce the medical treatment charges,” he said.

  • Health facilities should be upgraded to face third wave of Covid-19: CM Thackeray

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said health facilities in rural areas should be upgraded to tackle a possible third wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

    His government will provide all help to district administrations for this, he said after the virtual inauguration of an oxygen refilling plant at Kudal in Sindhudurg district.

    Upgradation of health infrastructure was now a priority for his government, he said.

    District authorities should increase oxygen production capacity and expand testing facilities, Thackeray said.

    “District administrations should start planning so that a third wave can be dealt with effectively,” he said.

    There should be no shortage of oxygen in districts, he added.

    The government will provide all assistance to strengthen the health infrastructure, Thackeray assured.

  • Maharashtra government says ‘no’ after Congress minister’s unlock announcement; BJP takes potshots

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI:  The Maha Vikas Aghadi government faced major embarrassment on Thursday, after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s office had to clarify that no decision had been taken regarding complete unlocking in 18 districts where positivity rate is below 5 per cent.

    An announcement of unlocking in 18 districts was earlier made by the Relief and Rehabilitation Minister of the state, Vijay Wadettiwar.

    Congress minister Wadettiwar had said the state government has taken a decision to unlock in five phases. He had said that districts where the positivity rate is below 5% will not have restrictions anymore.

    However, Chief Minister Thackeray immediately clarified that there had been no such development and issued a note saying that districts where positivity rate is below 5 per cent will continue to be under restrictions.

    The Chief Minister’s Office said that lifting restrictions is under consideration, but no decision has been taken. Wadettiwar, minister for Disaster Management, later said only “in principle” approval to phasing out of restrictions was given, but no decision has been taken.

    He had told reporters in the afternoon that restrictions would be lifted in 18 out of 36 districts in the state where the positivity rate is five per cent or less and the occupancy of oxygen beds in hospitals is less than 25 percent from Friday.

    He had held a press conference after a meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority here. The CMO statement that followed said the government has not lifted lockdown-like curbs as COVID-19has not been controlled completely yet. “The coronavirus spread is serious in some rural areas. The curbs have not been completely lifted in the state,” the statement added.

    Last week the government had announced that the restrictions, imposed in April this year, would continue till June 15. The CMO statement said that the Disaster Management department has decided five levels of severity of the pandemic based on the positivity rate and availability of oxygen beds.

    The CMO said that the degree of relaxation will be decided as per the level of severity and guidelines on whether to relax the curbs or further strengthen them will be announced soon.

    After the CMO issued the clarification, Wadettiwar told reporters that “in principle approval was given to phased lifting of lockdown curbs on the basis of positivity rate and availability of oxygen beds”, but no final decision was taken.

    Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were present at the meeting, he added. “No `unlock’ is happening in the state. Even though in principle approval has been given, final decision will be taken by the chief minister,” the Congress leader said.

    Maharashtra had on Wednesday recorded 15,169 new COVID-19 cases and 285 deaths.

    BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took a swipe at the Maharashtra government’s flip- flop over lifting of coronavirus restrictions, asking whether it happened because ministers wanted to take credit for the announcement.

    The state government on Thursday evening clarified that the existing restrictions have not been lifted, contrary to the announcement made by minister Vijay Wadettiwar. “What’s open and what’s closed? Lock or unlock? Immaturity or Credit seeking?” Fadnavis tweeted.

    He also wondered what should people believe, a press conference or a press note. He was referring to Wadettiwar’s press conference which was followed by a clarification note from the chief minister’s office.

    BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said the ministers and chief minister should not forget that daily wage workers, office- goers and the labourer class are suffering most because of the restrictions. “The ministers are busy with credit seeking but the government should not forget that it will have to pay a heavy price for this in coming days,” he said.

    Class XII exams cancelled

    Meanwhile, in view of the pandemic situation and rising infections among children, the Maharashtra government has cancelled Class XII exams. Maharashtra School and Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said that in anticipation of a potential the third wave, the state government has taken the decision of cancelling Class XII exams this year.

    “The state government cancelling Class XII exams will bring uniformity in the policy decision. Many students and parents are worried and concerned about their children’s health. No one wanted to take a risk by attending the exams. Therefore, this big decision of cancelling the exam was taken in view of student health,” Gaikwad said.

    She added that her department will prepare guidelines for evaluation of the students on the basis of their previous year’s exams and present year’s internal and practical exams. “We will ensure no student faces any difficulty. The Central government should declare teaching and non-teaching staff as frontline workers,” he said.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Maharashtra Covid-19 mortality rate beginning to ebb, CM Uddhav sets target of zero

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra has seen a major drop in Covid-19 cases in the last few days. Mortality rate has also fallen, by almost 0.40 per cent, placing the state at number six in the countrywide state tally, according to the state health department.

    The state’s mortality rate was more than the national average a few days back. Punjab’s mortality rate now is the highest across India right now, at 2.5 per cent, followed by 1.94 per cent in Uttarakhand, 1.69 per cent in Delhi, 1.68 per cent in Goa, and 1.66 per cent in Sikkim. In Maharashtra, the mortality rate at the moment is 1.65 per cent. The state was ranled third on this list not too long ago.

    Maharashtra has a total of 57,13,215 positive cases with 94,030 deaths. The all-India average mortality is 1.17 per cent, as against a global mortality rate of 2.08 per cent. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that the district administrations must work towards zero mortality. He said the government was preparing for a third wave.

    In the devastating second wave of the pandemic, high mortality was reported from rural areas of Maharashtra, while in the cities, cases were initially high, but the mortality rate was low. In rural areas, the positive cases are high, while mortality is also plummeting in urban localities in rural Maharashtra.

    State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the government has identified the districts where positive cases and mortality were high and executed micro-planning to tackle the pandemic situation. He said the mortality rate was very high in the first wave because everyone was new to the virus. With treatment, the situation started turning better and it is almost under control now, he claimed.

    “The cases peaked in April with the count as high as 70,000 cases per day. It has now come below 20,000 per day. For two days, per day cases are below 15,000. It shows that the situation is speedily improving following strict lockdown and implementation of pandemic rules. Besides, doctors are also getting used to the treatment,” said a senior government official.

    Maharashtra has slowly started relaxing lockdown hours and shops have been permitted to operate within those hours. Overall, there has been some improvement amid the constant need to take precacutions.

  • We are at first wave’s peak, most curbs to stay: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on COVID situation

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is not over yet, and active cases are still close to the first wave’s peak, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Sunday while announcing the  current lockdown-like restrictions in the state would be extended by 15 days with some relaxations.

    Maharashtra reported 18,600 new cases on Sunday, its lowest one-day count since mid-March this year, even as its active cases stood at 2,71,801. Lapses during the first wave of the pandemic last year and a hurried decision of reopening everything cost us the lives of the many people during the second wave, Thackeray said. 

    “Every life is important. Therefore, people threatening to protest if the restrictions are not eased out should understand the gravity of the situation. It is true that the lockdown is not the solutions and business should operate but they cannot afford to do this at this moment,” Thackeray said.

    He added it is one of the toughest and bitter decisions to impose the restrictions over his own people. Thackeray said in districts that are reporting less than 10 per cent positivity rate, the authorities can extend the operation time, between 7 am and 2 pm, for essential shops and establishments.

    “After 2 pm, only essential services will be allowed to operate. The district authority will also take the call for reopening non-essential shops or malls. If any district positivity rate is more than 20 per cent, then that districts will have to seal its border,” he said.

    CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray addressing the state https://t.co/W0FQgkntug
    — CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 30, 2021

    Haryana, Odisha and Telangana extend lockdown

    Meanwhile, Haryana, Odisha and Telangana were the latest among states and Union Territories to extend the COVID-induced lockdown, while Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday announced a partial easing of restrictions in districts with less active cases, though night curfew and weekend shutdown will remain.

    Many states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Goa, have extended the lockdown or restrictions for a week to a fortnight in June, while some of them like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have also announced a certain relaxation in the curbs due to a decline in new cases and positivity rate.