15-day curfew in Maharashtra from April 14; essential services exempted

All businesses, except essential services, to remain shut; Rs 5,400 cr package announced

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday announced 15-day curfew in the state and sought central help in airlifting medical oxygen as Covid-19 cases continue to spike in the state, putting a burden on its health infrastructure.

Public transport will continue but travel in suburban trains and buses will be only for people giving essential services. The tightening of curbs comes into effect on Wednesday night.

On Tuesday a record 60,212 cases were reported in the state and the number of active cases has increased to over 500,000.