Despite PM Modi’s plea, Maharashtra is set to go in full lockdown mode

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Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, in an address to the nation, said that a full lockdown should be used only as the last resort, the Maharashtra government has indicated that the state will go into a full shut down mode to contain the spread of Covid 19.</p>
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However, Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has said that the decision to impose a full lockdown in the state will be announced on Wednesday.</p>
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"We have made all the efforts to minimise the COVID-19 figures. He will announce the decision (to impose lockdown) tomorrow after finalising a detailed Standard Operating Procedure," news portal Moneycontrol quoted Bhujbal as saying.</p>
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A large section of the society said that a full lockdown will be a big blow to the state’s economy.</p>
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Modi on Tuesday said that the focus should be on managing the micro containment zones. </p>
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“I do hope the Maharashtra government will not impose a full lockdown as suggested by some ministers. This appears to be a short-cut. Politicians need to work hard and ensure rapid vaccination, micro-containment, supply of essentials and raise awareness,” Congress member Sanjay Jha said in a tweet.</p>
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A day earlier, N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons said, "We have to protect the people and we also have to protect the economy. It is not a binary option." He added that the vaccine production in the country needs to be ramped up to the level of mass production by replicating factory capacities.</p>