Fresh lockdown to be imposed in Maharashtra if Oxygen demand touches 800MT

Image credit: ANI (Representational image)

Mumbai: State Health minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday (December 25) said a fresh lockdown will be imposed in Maharashtra only if demand for medical oxygen touches 800 metric tons per day.

The announcement comes after the state witnessed a surge in daily cases with 1485 new infections reported on Saturday (December 25) along with 2 fresh cases of Omicron.

Omicron cases were increasing "rapidly", but in general such patients were not ending up in ICU nor did they need supplementary oxygen, Tope said, speaking to reporters in Jalna. "There will be statewide lockdown only if the demand for medical oxygen rises to 800 metric tons (per day)," he added.

The minister did not mention the current rate of consumption of medical oxygen in the state. We do not want people to face more restrictions, therefore I am making an appeal to people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. Wearing mask is very important, he said.

Maharashtra on Saturday (December 25) reported 1485 new COVID-19 cases along with 12 deaths in the state.

#COVID19 | Maharashtra reports 1,485 new cases, 796 recoveries and 12 deaths today. Active cases 9,102

Two new #Omicron cases were reported from Aurangabad; till date, a total of 110 Omicron cases have been reported in the State pic.twitter.com/RXXmlU2fqt — ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2021

The state discharged 798 fully recovered patients and the recovery rate of the state stands at 97.68%. Two new Omicron cases were reported from Aurangabad taking the total tally of Omicron cases to 110 today.

(With agency inputs)