Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar warns people of shutting down everything if they don't follow COVID-19 norms

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar expressed concerns over people letting their guard down against COVID-19 in rural areas and added that the Centre has already cautioned all the states, citing that Kerala and Maharashtra have been reporting the highest number of cases.

Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday (September 3) urged citizens not to put the state government in a position where it has to shut everything in the view of a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. He expressed concerns over people letting their guard down against COVID-19 in rural areas and added that the Centre has already cautioned all the states, citing that Kerala and Maharashtra have been reporting the highest number of cases. Speaking to reporters, Ajit Pawar said, "Unfortunately, in rural areas, some people are becoming lax. They are not scared of coronavirus. They don't use masks, don't follow physical distancing, and they have assumed that everything (COVID-19 pandemic) is over. This has led to rising infections."