Stubborn caseload is still a cause for concern: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope

A man with his mask worn improperly in Thakur Village, Kandivli, on Wednesday. Pic/Satej Shinde

State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said after the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that there are no relaxations in the Level 3 restrictions so far and that a flat Covid-19 curve is not enough to lift curbs. In another decision, the Cabinet also exempted fully vaccinated domestic passengers from carrying a Covid-19-negative RT-PCR report while arriving in Mumbai. Tope said that the decision had been approved in the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Mumbai's civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal had written to Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte seeking the exemption. Tope also acknowledged requests from the business community to allow fully vaccinated people to operate for longer hours. However, a decision on this has not been made yet.

Health Minister Rajesh Tope

Concerns over caseload

"As of now, there are no relaxations in the Level 3 restrictions," Tope said, adding that the decision, if any, would be taken by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. "The state's 98 per cent caseload is in 10 districts while the remaining 8 per cent caseload is spread over 26 districts," Tope said.

"The Covid curve has been flattened but the number of daily cases isn't going down. We want the cases to reduce further," Tope said.

Also read: Covid-19: Mumbai's daily count goes above 500-mark after two days; 10 die

Doctors to retire at 62

In another Cabinet decision, the retirement age of Group ‘A' officers (clinical and non-clinical) attached with medical and public health departments and state employees insurance scheme hospitals has been extended to 62 years in view of the shortage of the workforce amid the pandemic.

A Mumbai police personnel patrols Nariman Point on a rainy Wednesday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Adventure Tourism policy

The cabinet approved an Adventure Tourism policy to ensure the safety and security of tourists. It establishes a regulatory framework for the sector with guidelines and provides for the requirement of trained personnel and equipment. Organisers will have to register with the Tourism Directorate. There will be permanent registration after organisers qualify for the management of adventure tourism services. Committees at the state and divisional levels will monitor the policy's implementation. The committees will comprise experts from air, water and land tourism. The policy, however, will not apply to adventure activities that are held as competitions, to expeditions and to wildlife safaris. The guidelines will be made available at www.maharashtratourism.gov.in.

62 Yrs
Age at which doctors attached with medical, public health depts will now retire