HOUSING FOR ALL 2020 Knowledge Webinars for Real Estate Sector Session Notes Session 10: COVID 19: Impact and Way Forward Real Estate & Housing Sector Time: 3:00 pm, 21th April 2020 Nationwide Online Webinar was organized to seek inputs and guidance Hon’ble Speakers from Shri Aaditya Thackeray, Hon. Minister, Tourism and Environment, Government of Maharashtra on way forward of Real Estate Sector w.r.t. COVID-19 Pandemic crisis. • Hon’ble Minister, in his opening remark mentioned that, COVID-19 is probably the biggest crisis in human history, where the entire world is fighting with an invisible enemy. Citing some of the examples from across the world, the sheer challenge with Mumbai, Maharashtra and to India is that of the biggest & dense population. Shri. Aaditya Thackeray • In order to fight with this, apart from lockdown, social distancing and Minister, Tourism and other measures, Maharashtra has focused extensively on rapid Environment, GoM testing of COVID-19 patients. • As on last evening, there were 75,858 COVID tests have been carried out, among which only 6% tested positive. Among the positives, 84% of the cases are found with non symptomatic patients, 14% are with mild symptoms and 2% with visible symptoms. Therefore, the spread of COVID would reduce once we identify such patients at early stage and treat them. • This is very crucial turning point where globally, the Health Industry is going to transform completely. Today worldwide, there is shortage of hospitals, beds to treat patients, mask, PPE kits etc. This is because, the world up until had never felt the need of these things at such large scale. • What is needed today to survive through this is, Coexistence, wherein The Government, Leaders, Experts shall have meaningful dialogue and move forward. A Task Force is already setup by the State Government, wherein the leaders and experts from Government as well as private corporate sector are preparing a plan for rejuvenation of state economy after the lockdown. • As far as Tourism sector is concerned, Maharashtra has the potential of running its entire economy based on Tourism, like some of the countries of the world South Africa, Switzerland etc. are doing. Many places in and around Mumbai and Maharashtra have much greater importance w.r.t. our history and culture. • However, because of the under exposure, these places have not caught the attention of world. This is precisely where, our team and Government is focused on, and once we through with COVID-19, we shall work extensively on tourism to flourish in Maharashtra. Special attention shall be given on Woman safety while doing all this, so that they would feel more comfortable and secure all the time. • Since the entire world has stopped functioning but time has not, a month after we will have the rainy season started. Considering this, permission have been given at certain places to start the pre monsoon work. • In a battle against COVID-19, we should first take care of our self and maintain social distancing. Thereby the probability of contaminating our self and to others because of us would reduce substantially. • The session ended with vote of thanks to esteemed speakers..