Mumbai: Relaxations for shops, but movement still curbed

Movement for Covid-19 work, emergencies, home deliveries will be allowed. Passengers show their ID card at Ghatkopar railway station. File pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The lockdown-like restrictions have been extended till June 15, but municipal areas of Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Vasai-Virar will be given certain relaxations like extension in shop timings based of their Covid-19 mitigation performance.

The parameters for getting relaxations are - positivity rate equal to or less than 10 per cent and availability of 60 per cent oxygen beds. Since Mumbai fits the bill, it is all set to have restrictions eased. The government has created separate administrative units for implementing the revised measures.

All essential shops opening currently from 7 am to 11 am will be allowed to do business until 2 pm. Respective local authorities will decide on all non-essential shops (standalone shops, not the ones inside shopping centres or malls). If allowed, these shops will have similar timing and won't be allowed to open on weekends. Delivery of non-essential items through e-commerce will also be allowed.

Also Read: Mumbai: Traders and retailers turn to Opposition for help in lockdown

Curbs on movement intact

Movement, except for medical and other emergencies or for home deliveries, will be restricted. There will be no restrictions on cargo movements and deliveries to shops/establishments for the purposes of stock replenishment. The order says home delivery should be encouraged by allowing it for longer periods.

All government offices, except those involved directly for Covid-19 work, can function with 25 per cent attendance. Local authorities may allow more attendance if requested. Other corporations that may benefit are Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Nashik.

More cases, sealed borders

Borders will be sealed in districts where positivity rate is more than 20 per cent or where occupancy of the total oxygen beds is over 75 per cent. Permission will be granted only in the case of death in the family or on medical grounds or for performing duty relating to any emergency and/or essential services related to the Covid-19 management.

CM speaks

In his online address on Sunday evening, Thackeray said though the recovery rate and death rate were better in the second wave, the state had a number of active patients at par with the first wave peak in September. "We had a lockdown then, but now we have harsh restrictions. The number of cases in some districts is increasing and we need to control it," he said.

The CM said the third wave's landing time could not be predicted, "but we all can stop it by following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, and be cautious in taking further steps. The mutant virus spreads rapidly. The infected people need to stay longer in the hospital." "District-wise review is being done," he said about final relaxations and restrictions to be announced by Monday.

Thackeray said he gets distressed on remembering the instances of oxygen shortage in hospitals. "We have more beds and testing centres. We needed oxygen. We have increased the production capacity and yet we faced a deficit. We're still bringing in oxygen from other states," he said.

Moreover, a fungal infection, mucormycosis, has now become a major worry, he said, adding, "We have 3,000 patients with mucormycosis. We need to understand why Covid-19 patients get it."

15 June
Last day of lockdown extension