CM Uddhav Thackeray appealed for cooperation from people in those areas where relaxing the norms was not possible currently due to high caseload.
The Maharashtra government on Monday announced new guidelines for easing of lockdown curbs in those districts where the Covid-19 positivity rate is low. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, earlier in the day, said that allowing everyone in Mumbai local trains would be difficult “in the first phase” as the easing of curbs is being done slowly.
Thackeray, however, appealed for cooperation from people in those areas where relaxing the norms was not possible currently due to the caseload. He said the Covid-19 situation in districts like Satara, Kolhapur, Raigad, Sangli, Ratnagiri, and Sindudurg, was a “cause of worry”.
According to the order, the restrictions on movement of people will be applicable from 9 pm to 5 am.
It was also clarified by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) that the orders regarding easing of Covid-19 restrictions are not for Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbs and Thane along with 11 other districts like Kolhapur, Pune, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Beed, Raigad and Palghar where relaxations would not be applicable.
The BMC later in the evening issued orders for Mumbai, stating that malls would remain shut in the city, while restaurants will stay open till 4pm everyday.
So what does the relaxation in the state look like?
THINGS ALLOWED:
- Essential and non-essential shops (including shopping malls) will remain open on all weekdays till 8 pm and till 3 pm on Saturday. All shops and malls except essential shops to remain closed on Sundays.
- Public gardens and playgrounds are allowed to remain open for exercising, walking, jogging and cycling.
- Government and private offices can be operate with full capacity. Arrangement of working hours to be done to avoid crowding during travel.
- The offices that can continue to function through work from home should carry on doing the same.
- All agricultural activity, civil works, industrial activity, transport of goods can remain functional at full capacity.
- Yoga centers, gymnasiums hair cutting salons, beauty parlours, and spas can remain open without use of air-conditioners and with 50 per cent capacity till 8 pm on weekdays and till 3 pm on Saturdays. The said services will remain closed on Sundays.
- Restaurants will remain open with 50 per cent seating capacity till 4 pm on weekdays. Parcel and Takeaway to be allowed as usual.
THINGS NOT ALLOWED:
- Theatres – cinema, drama, multiplexes (independent and inside malls) to remain closed till further orders.
- All places of worship to also remain closed till further orders.
- Crowding is not allowed, restrictions remain imposed on birthday celebration, political, social and cultural events, elections, election campaigning, rallies and protest marches.
“All Covid-19 protocols such as use of masks, social distancing etc, to be scrupulously followed across Maharashtra by all the citizens. Failure in stringent adherence to the same will result in action on the defaulters under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Epidemic Act and Section 1860 of the Indian Penal Code,” the order stated.
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