Night curfew in Maharashtra from 8pm to 7am; weekend lockdown from Friday 8pm: Nawab Malik

Taking into account the surging number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik on Sunday said that night curfew from 8pm to 7am will be imposed in the entire state. Moreover, Maharashtra will also go under weekend lockdown on every Friday from 8pm.

During night restriction, only essential services will be permitted, the minister further added.

Govt offices will work at 50% capacity: theatres, gardens and playgrounds will be shut to avoid any gatherings of people.

But, all sorts of construction and industrial activity will continue and markets will be allowed to function, he said.

A day before yesterday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had warned of a lockdown if no alternative of a lockdown is found.

Maharashtra on Saturday reported 49,447 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest rise in a day so far, taking the tally to 29,53,523 while 277 fatalities pushed the toll to 55,656, the state health department said.

Mumbai city also registered 9,108 new infections, the highest spike in a single day.

Previously, Maharashtra had recorded the highest number of 24,619 cases in a day on September 17, 2020.