Night curfew was imposed from 11 pm to 5 am and Section 144 was imposed Mumbai. Even schools, which reopened after nearly two years, were asked to close until February 15
Students return to their school after nearly 20 months, on December 15. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
With the Covid-19 cases declining, restrictions in the city may be relaxed soon and schools could reopen as early as next week. The state government had imposed night curfew, reduced capacity at restaurants, malls, gyms, etc., as the daily cases surged beyond 20,000. Now that the tally has been much below 10,000 for days, the administration is planning to ease the curbs.
On January 8, the state government imposed a night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am and Section 144 was imposed in the city, prohibiting the gathering or movement of people in groups of five or more. Even schools, which reopened after nearly two years, were asked to close until February 15.
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People gather outside Juhu beach, which is closed to the public amid a rise in cases, on January 16. Pic/Shadab Khan
Over the past few days, the daily cases have been constantly declining, with slight fluctuations. The BMC believes the city reached the peak of Covid-19 third wave around January 7. Hence the civic administration is in favour of relaxing some of the restrictions by next week, said civic officials. “If the declining trend in the city continues, we shall pursue the matter with the state government to relax some restrictions,” said Iqbal Singh Chahal, the BMC commissioner.
Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban Aaditya Thackeray also tweeted, “In a review meeting this morning (Wednesday) with the BMC and the experts of the state Task Force for Covid-19, we reviewed the vaccination status for 15 to 18-year-olds along with our preparedness for safe reopening of educational institutions at the earliest possible [time], now that cases are steadily declining.”
As part of the Covid-19 restrictions in the city, the number of people at marriages or other gatherings was reduced to 50, parks, zoos, museums and forts were shut. Swimming pools, gyms, spas, shopping malls and markets were allowed to open at 50 per cent of capacity, and were asked to shut from 10 pm to 8 am. Restaurants were also told to allow dine in at 50 per cent capacity till 10 pm.
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