Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the war against Covid-19 will be won by the "whole-hearted participation" of people, who have to decide whether to follow protocols to contain the spread of the disease or remain in lockdown. In a webcast, Thackeray said Covid-19  is a "foreign guest not leaving us despite our best efforts", and added that it is spreading from cities to rural areas. He said 70 to 80 per cent Covid-19 patients are asymptomatic, and termed face mask as the self-defence or the "black belt" in the fight against the viral infection till a vaccine comes up. "I don't want to impose strict laws or penalty against violators of the Covid-19 protocols. The war against the pandemic will be won by people's whole-hearted participation," he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the war against Covid-19 will be won by the "whole-hearted participation" of people, who have to decide whether to follow protocols to contain the spread of the disease or remain in lockdown. In a webcast, Thackeray said Covid-19  is a "foreign guest not leaving us despite our best efforts", and added that it is spreading from cities to rural areas. He said 70 to 80 per cent Covid-19 patients are asymptomatic, and termed face mask as the self-defence or the "black belt" in the fight against the viral infection till a vaccine comes up. "I don't want to impose strict laws or penalty against violators of the Covid-19 protocols. The war against the pandemic will be won by people's whole-hearted participation," he said.