Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said liquor shops in the state can be opened if social distancing measures are strictly followed.
“If social distancing is properly maintained, there should not be any ban on liquor shops,” Tope said while responding to a question regarding the subject during his Facebook Live earlier today.
Commenting on the number of deaths due to novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, crossing the 3,000 mark, Tope said, “In Maharashtra, we have conducted 76,000 tests. The same for Mumbai stands at over 50,000. We have decided to undertake 75,000 rapid tests. The state has done the most number of tests in the country.”
He said that there are about 6,000 surveillance teams working in Maharashtra. But raised concerns about those in the state who are ‘still hiding symptoms’ of the novel coronavirus, despite the recovery rate being high.
Tope said that hydroxychloroquine will be administered to patients who do not have any heart problems.
Later in a tweet, Tope said that although liquor shops are not in the list of exemptions, a final decision on the same will be announced only after strict regulations are prepared.