As the state of Maharashtra declared to continue the existing lockdown till July 31. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad announced that no strict measures will be imposed in the city. However, he clarified that containment zones will continue to be revised and will be evaluated regularly.
The announcement comes after speculations of impositions of stricter measures in the city considering the rising number of cases post-Unlock 1.
Unlock 1 has welcomed a lot of relaxations in the city with shops opening and movement around the city becoming easier. But this has also has given rise to new hotspots and an increasing number of COVID-19 cases.
Recently, Maharashtra Chief Minister, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in his address to the state, entrusted local authorities to analyse the situation of the locality and administer stricter lockdown if necessary. Accordingly, many districts have imposed stricter rules to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Post the announcement, speculations about a stricter lockdown in Pune surfaced owing to the surge in COVID-19 cases.
But putting all speculations to rest Gaikwad clarified that the city will continue to function as it is right now. Though, considering the State's guideline of closure at 5 pm, shop timings may cut down from current 7 pm to 5 pm.
“While the state has not granted any further relaxations, it has also not imposed additional curbs. We will continue with the present mandates in place and issue a formal order on this shortly,” Gaikwad said.
Today, PMC officials are expected to meet police officials to discuss the measures to be taken in restricted areas and containment zones. Currently, Pune has 73 containment zones.
