MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Thursday took note of the “alarming” situation in Pune due to the high number of Covid-19 cases and told the state government to consider imposing a total lockdown.
“If this is the situation in Pune, why not consider a total lockdown?” said the bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice Girish Kulkarni while hearing a clutch of PILs on the shortage of remdesivir, beds, oxygen and testing facilities.
The judges noticed that Pune had the highest number of cases in Maharashtra. While Mumbai has 56,000 cases, Pune has around 1.14 lakh.
“Pune figures are more than double that of Mumbai. Why does your (municipal) commissioner not take guidance from Mumbai municipal commissioner?” asked the CJ.
Advocate-general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni said Pune’s figures were high because patients from in and around Pune are brought there, adding to the numbers. He gave the instance of a patient being brought from Solapur to Pune, which he said was three-and-a-half hours by road.
The judges said “drastic steps”, including total lockdown, are required in places where the caseload is high. “More particularly Pune,” said the CJ.
The judges also questioned the PMC on the situation. “What is the plan of action? What drastic steps are taken?” asked Justice Kulkarni.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/covid-19-why-not-consider-a-total-lockdown-in-pune-asks-bombay-hc/articleshow/82457954.cms
