Maharashtra govt introduces stricter norms for hotels, cinema halls, offices

Customers shop at a mall in Malad after it opened in August last year. File pic

Alarmed with the rising COVID-19 cases, the state government has reintroduced emergency measures to contain the spread of the virus, especially for cinema halls, multiplexes and shopping malls. It has also put in place conditions for home isolation stringent for the fortnight till March 31.

On Monday, the administration issued a notification under the Disaster Management Act. It said all the offices except for health and other essential services should work with 50% attendance. Violations will shut the office till the pandemic continues to be notified as a disaster by the Centre.

According to the order issued by Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, persons in home isolation will be stamped and a board put up for 14 days at their locations (buildings) to indicate the presence of active patients. The families of positive patients have been advised to restrict movement. The patients will be sent to the COVID Care Centre if violation is reported.

The shopping malls, restaurants, multiplexes will have ensure that no patron is allowed to enter without wearing masks. Temperature measuring devises and sanitisers have been made compulsory at these places. They have been asked to appoint adequate manpower to check the violations in wearing masks and physical distancing on their premises. Restaurants and cinema halls will operate with 50% seating capacity.

Religious places have been asked to decide on the visitors per hour depending upon the space available and follow COVID norms similar to the malls and cinema halls.

No social, political and cultural gathering is allowed. Violation will result in closing of the premises till the pandemic continues to be notified as a disaster by the Centre, said the state.

The government has reiterated guidelines for weddings and funerals after they were flouted by people. Maximum 50 people can attend weddings and 20 can go to a funeral. Violator wedding halls will be closed till the Centre's pandemic measures remain effective.