Maharashtra: Essential and non-essential shops to remain open till 8 pm on weekdays

Representational Image | File Pic

The Maharashtra government, on Monday, issued a notification to relax Covid-19 curbs in several districts. Essential and non-essential shops to remain open till 8 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on Saturdays. All shops and malls except essential shops to remain closed on Sundays.

However, the notification issued by the government also extended level 3 curbs in 11 districts.

The districts in which Level 3 curbs have been extended are: Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Beed, Raigad and Palghar.

Besides, easing curbs in Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban and Thane districts will be taken by the Disaster Management Authorities of the districts, the notification added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had earlier said his government will issue orders allowing shops to remain open till 8 pm in the districts where the Covid-19 positivity rate is low.

He also said that allowing all segments of society in Mumbai local trains would be difficult "in the first phase" as the easing of curbs is being done slowly.

"As far as giving relaxation is concerned, the state government is issuing an order today allowing shops to remain open till 8 pm (where positivity rate is low). However, where the number of cases is still not coming down, restrictions will remain the same," he said.

Here are the modifications on restrictions to be implemented in Maharashtra except the aforementioned districts:

• AII essential and non-essential shops (including shopping malls) to remain open on all weekdays till 8 PM and till 3 PM on Saturday. All shops and malls except essential shops to remain closed on Sundays.
• All public gardens and playgrounds can be kept open for the purpose of exercise, walking, jogging and cycling.
• All government and private offices can be operational with full capacity. Staggering of work hours to be done to avoid crowds while travelling. The offices that can function through working from home should continue to do so.
• All agricultural activity, civil works, industrial activity, transport of goods can remain functional at full capacity.
• Gymnasiums, yoga centers, hair cutting salons, beauty parlors, spas can remain open without use of air-conditioners and with 50% capacity till 8 PM on weekdays and till 3 PM on Saturdays. The said services will remain closed on Sundays.
• All cinema theaters, drama theaters and multiplexes (independent and inside malls) to remain closed till further orders.
• All places of worship in the State to remain closed till further orders.
• The orders of the State Education department and the Higher and Technical Department will be applicable for schools and colleges.
• All restaurants will remain open with 50% seating capacity till 4 PM on weekdays subject to adherence to all Covid-19 protocols. Parcel and takeaway to be allowed as is allowed currently.
• Restrictions on movement will be applicable from 9 PM to 5 AM.
• In order to avoid crowding, restrictions imposed on birthday celebration, political, social and cultural events, elections, election campaigning, rallies, protest marches to be continued.
• All Covid 19 protocols - use of masks, social distancing etc. to be scrupulously followed across the State by all the citizens. Failure in stringent adherence to the same will result in action on the defaulters under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Epidemic Act and Section 1860 ofthe Indian Penal Code.