Maharashtra govt links ease of curbs with vaccinated population

A student gets a dose of vaccine at Nair hospital. Pic/Ashish Raje

The state government has linked the degree of COVID-19 relaxations with the number of vaccinated people in the respective districts from Tuesday. Mumbai has qualified for most relaxations and issued an order on the same. The districts that have achieved 90 per cent vaccination of the first dose and 70 per cent of both the doses till January 30 will return to near normalcy.

Apart from Mumbai, Pune, Bhandara, Sindhudurg, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Sangli, Gondia, Kolhapur and Chandrapur will enjoy most relaxations.

The timing of the restaurants, theatres, and natyagrihas may be extended as decided by local authorities, but will be subjected to the 50 per cent cap on capacity, which is also allowed for religious, cultural and folk entertainment programmes. However, for Mumbai, these establishments can operate as per pre-COVID timings.

Beneficiaries get a dose of vaccine at Nair hospital. File pic

Beaches, gardens, parks may open as per timings fixed by the local authorities. Mumbai civic body has allowed these to operate at pre-COVID timings. Amusement/theme parks to remain operational with 50 per cent of the operational capacity. Swimming pools, water parks will remain open with 50 per cent capacity.

Spas can remain operational with 50 per cent capacity, subject to the same restrictions as imposed for beauty salon and hair cutting shops. Gyms too can operate with the same capacity.

Wedding parties may have guests up to 25 per cent of the capacity of open ground and banquet halls or 200 guests, whichever is lower. However, attendance at funerals will not be capped.

The restriction on movement in the night can be eased and local tourist spots can operate with reasonable restrictions, as per the state rules. Weekly bazaars may be back in the appointed places. The local authority will decide upon activities not specifically mentioned in the order. Accordingly, there will be no restriction on movement from 11 pm to 5 am in Mumbai and tourist spots will be open during normal timings.

Competitive sports and other such activities including horse racing may have 25 per cent audience only in terms of fixed chairs or seating arrangement.

National parks and safaris will remain open for the fully vaccinated as per regular timings with online ticketing. The controlling authorities have been asked to restrict the number of people to be allowed in such activities at any time. Same rules will apply to the tourist spots with online ticketing facility.

For the districts that are lagging in vaccination, relaxation will be applicable, either fully or partly, only after explicit permission of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). "Proposals for seeking such relaxations must detail special conditions that may be prevalent in the districts that has led to suboptimal status of vaccination, plan to increase vaccination, the rational why relaxation is being sought despite large population still unvaccinated and at risk," said the order issued by Chief Secretary Debashish Chakrabarty, who also heads the Executive Committee of SDMA.

50
Capacity (in per cent) allowed at most places

200
Cap on number of guests at weddings