AS COVID CASES SEE A STEADY DECLINE, MAHARASHTRA EASES COVID-19 CURBS

After a steady decline in fresh Coronavirus cases, India’s industrial hub of Maharashtra state eased COVID-19 restrictions in most districts on Tuesday, including in the financial capital of Mumbai,

Accounting for more than 6 million of the 31.7 million cases, Maharashtra has been the worst-affected state in India’s COVID outbreak.

State authorities, at the peak of a second wave of infections driven by the Delta variant of the virus in April and May, imposed restrictions on movements and only let essential shops open.

However, Maharashtra further eased lockdown restrictions for 25 districts, including Mumbai. As per the new directives, shops in these districts will now be allowed to operate till 8 pm on weekdays against the earlier closing time of 4 pm. In a measure of relief to Maharashtra’s retailers and shop owners reeling under heavy economic losses due to the pandemic, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said, “The hitherto curtailed shop timings would be extended till 8 p.m. in districts with a low case positivity rate. Whereas 11 districts are the ones where restrictions continue.” The order said that, “the restrictions that have been imposed through Break the Chain. Orders dated June 4, 2021, and June 17, 2021, for level 3 be continued for Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Beed, Raigad, and Palghar.”

Meanwhile Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) came out with its own set of guidelines allowing shops and other establishments to remain open till 10 pm, and hotels and restaurants to operate till 4 pm through the week. There is no major relief for restaurants. Hotels and restaurants will be allowed to remain open till 4 pm on all days for dine-in, including weekends. So far, they were allowed to remain open only on weekdays. Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Chahal in his order said that, “Mumbai had a positivity rate of 1.76 per cent and the oxygen bed occupancy is 18.97 per cent. While these are rates for level 1 restrictions, the state government had last month issued orders that local bodies relax below level 3 restrictions. Malls would remain shut in the city of Mumbai, while restaurants will stay open till 4pm everyday.

BMC majorly has allowed the film and on set shootings with proper norms to be followed for Covid-19. BMC has allowed indoor and outdoor activities with covid appropriate behaviour except for swimming pools or sports where physical activity involves close contact.

“Except for the above relaxations, all other activities will have to be followed as per the earlier restrictions that are imposed for private offices, malls and theatres followed by the opening of public grounds and gardens,” said the order issued by Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Chahal.