Maharashtra to impose weekend lockdown, new restrictions

Mumbai, April 4  

Maharashtra said it would impose stringent COVID-19 restrictions from Monday as there has been a rapid rise in infections, NCP Minister Nawab Malik told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

Coronavirus cases continue to rise rapidly in India with the number of new infections nearing all-time high on Sunday, largely driven by infections in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra government on Sunday announced a weekend lockdown in the state from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday in a bid to curb the growing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the state.

Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will be in force from Monday 8 pm onwards, Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik said,

He said that night curfew will continue and prohibitory orders issued under section 144 will be force during the day time during the week.

"Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will be in force from 8 pm tomorrow, under which shopping malls, bars, restaurants,small shops will be open only for take-aways and parcels. Government offices will be allowed to function only at 50 per cent of their capacity," he said.

Industries and production sector,vegetable markets will function with Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and construction sites will operate if there is accommodation facility for workers, he added.

Theatres and drama theatres will close down but while film and television shootings will continue if there is no crowding.

Parks and playgrounds will also be closed, he said.

Religious places will have to follow the SoPs, Malik said, adding that that public transport system will remain functional.

Mumbai city guardian minister Aslam Shaikh told reporters that work from home will be encouraged for offices, except for insurance, mediclaim, electricity and civic offices.

Essential services have been exempted from the existing night curfew, he said.

The country reported 93,249 new cases in the 24 hours to Sunday morning, according to data from the union Health Ministry. Maharashtra accounted for more than half of that with a record 49,447 new cases.

Private offices with exceptions to remain shut in Maharashtra: Minister    

Private offices, except in the banking and insurance sectors, will remain shut in Maharashtra from Monday night when strict restrictions come into force, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday.

He said employees of other private offices will be allowed to work from home.

Government offices will function at 50 per cent of their capacity and the rest of the employees will work from home, except the staffers of the essential services related to the pandemic management (who will have to report to work), the minister said.

The state government on Sunday announced a weekend lockdown in the state from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday to curb the huge surge in COVID-19 cases.

Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will come into force from Monday 8 pm onwards under which shopping malls, bars, restaurants, small shops will be open only for take-aways and parcels.

Tope said saloons and beauty parlours will also remain closed in the state.

Public transport will remain functional with restrictions, and autorickshaws and cabs will operate with a limited number of passengers, he added.

Tope said violators will have to pay the fine of Rs 500. — PTI

—  Agencies

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