MUMBAI: After a review of the spike in Covid cases with the Omicron wave, the state government on Wednesday said it would not impose a lockdown but would implement “augmented restrictions” to control non-essential activities and prevent crowding when required.
“There is no need for a 100% lockdown at this stage. We will be implementing augmented restrictions when required. The suggestions will be sent to CM Uddhav Thackeray for his approval,” said state health minister Rajesh Tope after a review meeting chaired by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
A senior official said a meeting on the restrictions would most likely take place on Thursday. These could include reduction in office attendance and restrictions on timings of shops and restaurants. A restriction on train commuters could also be on the cards. “There is no doubt that restrictions will have to be introduced soon given the speed of transmission,” said a senior official.
Tope said cases were expected to double over a 3-day period. As many as 70 legislators and over 10 ministers have tested positive. “The encouraging news is that over 90% patients were asymptomatic and just 1-2% required hospitalisation,” he said.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the state decided to reduce the quarantine period to 7 days followed by a negative RT-PCR test. Also, to allow the use of rapid antigen tests to detect the virus instead of the RT-PCR test and to become stricter about vaccinations, especially the second dose. It has also decided to allow private hospitals to undertake booster vaccinations of healthcare workers. “In the current scenario, home isolation is important. Instead of contact tracing, authorities will monitor those who are in home isolation. We have decided to reduce quarantine period to seven days. After this, a negative RT-PCR will be required for patients,” said Tope.
He said given the volume of tests anticipated in the coming days, the state had decided to allow rapid antigen tests to detect cases. “Rapid antigen tests will be available at kiosks and pharmacies in the state, and the result will be recorded on our portal. The RT-PCR test will not be needed for detection,” Tope said. With Omicron now the main variant in the state, it was no longer necessaryto test and differentiate between strains, he said. He also said the state would take stricter measures to boost vaccination, especially of the second dose. “There is no doubt symptoms are milder this time, and the analysis was that vaccination is responsible for the change. We will become stricter on enforcing vaccinations,” he said.
On booster doses for healthcare workers, Tope said the state would amend rules to allow vaccination at private hospitals as well as they had a stock of vaccines. He denied the state had not used funds sent by Centre for Covid relief. “The Centre sent funds in September for the Emergency Covid Response Programme 2. These have been transferred to the district level, which takes time. There were also some issues placing orders on the GEM portal,” he said.
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