Maharashtra announces five-step unlock plan
Maharashtra announced a five-step unlock plan from Monday in a late-night order yesterday, a day after the state government’s U-turn on ease of restrictions announced by a Minister earlier.
The new guidelines come into effect from Monday with the districts of the state divided into five levels based on positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancies.
The first level, for districts with less than five per cent positivity rate and below 25 per cent oxygen bed occupancy will be allowed to unlock fully with no restrictions. There are 18 districts that come under the first level of unlock. All restaurants, malls, salons, movie theatres, shops can open in districts under level 1.
The second level is for districts with less than five per cent positivity and oxygen beds occupancy of 25 to 40 per cent. State capital Mumbai falls under this category. Film shoots will now be allowed to resume in the city.
Shops can reopen in districts under level 2, however, malls, restaurants, gymnasiums, salons have been allowed partial relaxations. Marriages and gatherings have also been allowed with 50 per cent capacity.
Offices, too, can reopen with full capacity in districts under level 2.
Mumbai local trains, the densely populated city’s lifeline, will however not be operational yet. Buses in Mumbai will be allowed to operate at full capacity however passengers will not be allowed to travel standing up to avoid crowding the bus.