Covid-19: Mumbai Imposes Curfew-Like Restrictions In 21 Hotspot Area

Mumbai: Authorities decided to tighten restrictions in 21 hotspots of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Mumbai on Thursday, a day after Uttar Pradesh and Delhi adopted a similar approach to contain the fast-spreading viral infection.

The curfew-like restrictions that will come into effect immediately will continue till further orders. No one will be allowed to venture out of their houses in these hot spots and essentials will be hand-delivered, the state cabinet decided. Only medicine shops will remain open.

In the 23 containment zones in Delhi and over 100 hot spots in Uttar Pradesh, medicine shops too will be closed, unlike in Mumbai, although the ban on stepping out will be enforced in all three places. Frontline workers, such as health care staff and doctors, will be exempt.

“We have identified 21 hotspots in Mumbai where we are imposing curfew with immediate effect. The supply of the essential services will be done by the state administration, compelling residents to stay home during this period,” said textile minister Aslam Shaikh. The list of the 21 hotspots was not immediately available.

Vegetable markets in these areas will be closed down as authorities say these were leading to crowding. “In fact, people should make up their minds to give up vegetables for the next few days. Farmers have made up their minds to not grow vegetables,” said revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat.

The government is also expected to strengthen security for the effective implementation of the lockdown.

“I have requested the Rapid Action Force and the State Reserve Police Force for the effective implementation of the curfew. Barring medical shops, everything else would be shut in the hots pots we have identified in Mumbai. It would not be possible to contain the spread in areas like Dharavi without imposing stricter restrictions as the next eight days are crucial,” said school education minister Varsha Gaikwad, a legislator from Dharavi.

Maharashtra has the highest number of cases (1,297 as of Thursday morning) and fatalities (72) in the country. Mumbai accounts for 857 of these cases. With 14 positive patients and three deaths, the densely populated Dharavi is one of the hot spots in the city.