Masks your 'dhal' in Covid-19 battle: CM Uddhav Thackeray as Covid-19 surges in Maharashtra

On a day the Maharashtra government intensified the measures vis-a-vis Covid-19, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said masks go a long way in combating the viral pandemic.

“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj defeated his enemies... he had ‘talwar’ (sword) and ‘dhal’ (shield)... in our fight against coronavirus, the biggest ‘dhal’ is your mask,” Thackeray said on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the legendary Maratha warrior at Shivneri Fort in Junnar in Pune district. “We draw inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and we will win this battle,” he said.

The Chief Minister’s statement came on a day when new curbs were placed in several cities including Mumbai.

Also read — Curbs, lockdown in parts as Maharashtra sees 5,427 Covid-19 cases after 75 days

There has been a significant rise in cases in Maharashtra over the last seven days in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nashik and towns of the Vidarbha region.

“Strict action would be taken against those found not wearing masks,” Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar told reporters.

In Mumbai, over 5,000 marshals have been pressed by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to keep a check on whether people are wearing masks or not. While 4,800 would be on the roads of Mumbai, around 300 would travel in trains in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Also read — Mumbai to take strict Covid-19 measures

The BMC has decided to keep all passengers coming to Mumbai from Brazil under mandatory seven-day institutional quarantine. The implementation for the same has already begun.

“The Mumbai police are now being empowered to take action against unmasked citizens. The police can also act as marshals by imposing fines on the violators,” BMC officials said, adding that municipal teachers will be deployed at all buildings, offices, hospitals managed by corporation with powers to take punitive action against those roaming without masks.

“In order to monitor all places of worship, women marshals will also be deployed along with male marshals. Roaming without a mask, gathering of more than 50 people at a time or any such violation will lead to punitive action. Action will also be taken against those found in playgrounds and parks without masks,” officials said.