In a balancing act aimed at arresting the rapid spread of Covid-19 and at the same time not disturbing the economic activity in the State, the Maharashtra Government on Sunday announced night curfew, weekend lockdown and restrictions banning the assembly of five or more people, across the State beginning from Monday to April 30.
The state government’s announcement came on a day when Maharashtra recorded a disturbing all-time record of 57,074 new infections and 222 pandemic-induced deaths.
After warned the people in the state repeatedly that he might consider seriously the option of imposing lockdown in the state in view of growing Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray– in his effort not to inconvenience the working class --adopted somewhat of a practical approach to deal with the worsening the pandemic situation in the state.
In a significant development that came two days after it imposed night curfew from 6 pm to 6 am in Pune for a week, the Maharashtra government came out with more stringent restrictions for the entire state – under which there would be night curfew between 7 pm and 8 am, weekend lockdown from Friday night to Monday morning and prohibitory orders under section 144 of IPC banning assembly of four or more persons during a normal day.
Barring the exemption on the sale of vegetables, drugs and essential commodities, the fresh Covid-19 triggered guidelines announced closure of all other kind of shops, malls and markets from April 5 to April 30.
The state government also said that it would facilitate the immediate vaccination of all such shops vending essential commodities to the people and asked the shopkeepers to keep a watch on their customers whether they were following the Covid-19 norms.
Under the guidelines, cinema halls, multiplexes, auditoriums, video parlours, clubs, swimming pools, sports complexes, halls and water parks will remain closed till April 30.
The state government also announced closure of temples and other places of worship for those coming for darshan and prayers. However, it permitted priests and employees to visit the temple for their day-to-day chores.
In another stern measure, the state government said that while bar and restaurants would remain closed completely, hotels would remain open from 7 am to 8 pm. It has allowed street vendors to sell food parcels to people from 7 am to 7 pm.
While e-commerce services have been allowed between 7 am and 8 pm, the state government has made vaccination mandatory on the home delivery persons.
If the delivery boys are found without being vaccinated, each one of them would be fined at the rate of Rs 1000 per cent and their respective firms would be fined Rs 10,000 per person.
There will be a complete ban on the cutting saloons and beauty parlours, while their employees have been advised to get vaccinated at the earliest. However, there is no ban on the printing and distribution of newspapers.
The schools and colleges will remain closed. However, the 10th and 12th examinations –scheduled to take place later this month or early next month -- will be exempted from the restrictions.
While the film shootings have been allowed, the film makers have been told not to shoot crowd scenes. All the workers engaged in the film work would have to undergo Covid-19 tests.
The state government has allowed construction activity, under which the builder can transport material and equipment. However, the state government has restrained the builders from sacking labourers who have tested positive for Covid-19.
In another measure, the state government said that any housing society with more than five Covid-19 patients be declared as a containment zone.