Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today announced that though there had been an increase in the number of reported Covid-19 cases in the state, the increase did not necessitate a lockdown.
Speaking on the closing day of the Budget session, the CM said, "We have no plans to impose a fresh lockdown in the state right now. To prevent a situation where one is required, we have already asked the educational institutions to
suspend on-site classes for the time being. The pandemic has thrown up a big challenge to the entire world, and Telangana is no exception. However, we hope to be able to prevent the necessity for another lockdown through the strict implementation of the Covid-19 prevention guidelines. We are already doing everything we can to contain the spread of the disease, including conducting state-wide vaccination drives."
"The pandemic has devastated the state and the world. Telangana has suffered losses of about Rs 1 lakh crore. So, it is crucial to prevent another Covid-19 wave. Apart from vaccinations, the only other way to do this is by following the guidelines. I urge all the people of the state to wear masks, sanitise their hands regularly, practice social distancing and maintain personal hygiene. Together, we can all check the spread of Covid-19," he added.
The clarification reportedly comes after some film industry bigwigs met the CM and inquired about the state government's plans to impose another lockdown. The possibility of one has left them worried as it will bring them much economic harm as it will severely affect the collections of high-budget films.
This follows an assurance made regarding film theatres - Cinematography Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav had recently stated that the
film theatres in Telangana would not be closed down.