The shutdown is expected to be different from last year’s as it would not hamper economic activities like before, but essentially focus on preventing crowding for arresting the increasing transmission of the novel coronavirus, said sources.

 

Uddhav Thackeray's directives came at a review meeting on Sunday in which the Covid Task Force projected more deaths if restrictions like lockdown were not imposed. "Since the Covid protocol and guidelines are violated, the administration should prepare for a lockdown and make standard operating procedures available," the chief minister was quoted as saying in an official statement.