Amid a sharp surge in coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, Nagpur became the first city in the last months to impose a state of complete lockdown. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who received his first dose of the Covid vaccine Thursday, warned that such a step could also be taken in other states. The Nagpur lockdown will last a week, between March 15 and March 21. Some essential activities, including a few industries, are partially exempt.
In New Delhi, NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul described Maharashtra as a “significant worry”, and asked other states, especially those that are showing signs of resurgence including Delhi, not to take the virus “for granted”.
Meanwhile, the country’s top drug regulatory body on Thursday revised its permission to Bharat Biotech for use of Covaxin, taking the Covid-19 vaccine out of “clinical trial mode” in the ongoing immunisation programme.
The development, which follows the recommendations of an expert panel under the regulator, means Covaxin will now have the same authorization as Serum Institute of India’s Covishield.