Delta Plus brings whole Maharashtra under Mumbai-type restrictions

Carefully laid out plan does not survive contact with variant of concern; local authorities can even impose extra restrictions

The state government on Friday revised the five-level unlock parameters it had introduced on June 4 and has kept all cities and districts at Level 3. It also empowered local authorities to impose extra strict curbs, saying that the novel Coronavirus’s Delta Plus variant was fuelling the potentiality of an imminent and more severe third wave over a wider geographical area.

One of the actions determined by the government are to achieve vaccination of 70 per cent of the population. Pic/Ashish Raje

Henceforth, irrespective of values of the indices of weekly test positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy percentage, Levels 1 and 2 have been abolished till further orders. Despite qualifying for Level 2, Mumbai’s civic body chose not to upgrade.

The uniform curbs will mean shops are allowed to operate between 7 am and 4 pm; malls, theatres, and single screens will remain closed. Restaurants will operate at 50 per cent capacity till 4 pm and thereafter only for deliveries. Local trains will carry only essential services staff. Public places and parks will remain open from 5 am to 9 pm. Private offices will work on all days till 4 pm. Government office attendance will be at 50 per cent (see more in the box).

The order issued on Friday said that when there is an upward trend in daily positive cases which requires a higher level of restrictions, local authorities shall do so without waiting for two weeks’ trends. 

However, before accepting a lower level of restrictions, the two weeks’ trend will be considered. The weekly positivity rate will be determined only on the basis of RT-PCR tests and not Rapid Antigen Tests or other tests. Local authorities have been empowered to impose a higher level of restrictions with the same base level without permission from the state government.

The order signed by Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte explained the need for revision. “A consortium of laboratories for Whole Genome Sequencing in the context of Covid-19 pandemic has intimated that Delta Plus is currently a variant of concern (VOC) with characteristics like increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells and potential reductions in monoclonal antibody response,” the order stated.

According to Health Minister Rajesh Tope, the state has reported its first Covid-19 death linked to Delta Plus variant. Out of the 21 cases, an 80-year-old woman with comorbidities succumbed.

“The VOC has been found in Maharashtra’s seven districts. These mutations and its continual evolution mean that unforeseen situations may unfold requiring wider and stricter restrictions, the level triggers other than oxygen bed occupancy at the state level need to be promulgated,” added the order. 

Level 3 restrictions

>> No movement post 5 pm; shops to operate from 7 am to 4 pm; malls, theatres, and single screens to remain closed
>> Restaurants at 50% capacity till 4 pm and then for deliveries
>> Local trains only for essential services staff. Public places and parks from 5 am to 9 pm
>> Private offices to be open on all days till 4 pm, government offices at 50 per cent capacity
>> Sports activities from 5 am to 9 am and 6 pm to 9 pm
>> Bio bubble and restricted movement after 5 pm for film shooting units. Social gatherings at 50 per cent attendance; weddings up to 50 people; funerals, 20 people
>> Society meetings and election rallies at 50% attendance.
>> E-commerce to operate. Salons and gyms at 50% capacity, and with appointments only

4 pm
Time till which private offices can operate

50%
Permitted capacity at gyms, salons and political rallies

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