COVID-19: Blanket night curfew, weekend lockdown to be imposed in Maharashtra

Fighting an exponential rise in COVID19 cases the Maharashtra government has decided to impose harsh curbs a night curfew and a blanket lockdown over the weekends The new orders named lsquoBreak the Chainrsquo will be in force from Monday April 5 till April 30The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of council of ministers on Sunday Over the past two days Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray interacted with stakeholders to explain to them the dire need of strict curbs and a blanket lockdown on weekends Only essential services will be allowed during the curfew and weekend lockdown between Friday 8 pm and Monday 7 amThere will be a night curfew from 8 pm to 7 am and assembly of five and more persons will be banned throughout the day Cinema halls multiplexes malls swimming pools water parks video parlours sport complexesclubs gyms spas restaurants and bars will be closed Restaurants and roadside food stalls have been allowed takeaway service between 7 am and 8 pm They will have to ensure physical distancing by the lsquowaitingrsquo customers or else face shutdownGuidelines for containment of COVID19 BreakTheChain pictwittercomBLnOTaExc5mdash CMO Maharashtra CMOMaharashtra April 4 2021Ecommerce activity has been permitted between 7 am and 8 pm The home delivery staff should be vaccinated The violation will invite a penalty of Rs 1000 the delivery staff and Rs 10000 for the companyGardens beaches and seafronts will be closed between 8 pm and 7 am but local administration has been empowered to close them in case of crowding Sources said the ban on assembly of five and more will obviously give the police to whisk away people during the daytimeExcept grocery stores medicine shops and vegetable vendors all other shops malls and markets will remain closed till April 30 Shops which are allowed to operate have been asked to vaccinate their employees at the earliest and ensure COVID19 appropriate behaviour from the staff and customersFilm industry has been barred from filming scenes involving crowds from April 10 onwards Agriculture activity transport of farm produce and raw material will not be stoppedKeeping in view the economic needs industrial units and factories will be allowed to operate under COVID protocol The construction contracted by the government will not stop The real estate activity will continue provided the workers are provided onsite accommodation Real estate developers have been advised against dismissing indisposed workers and pay them the wages of the days they donrsquot work because of illness like COVID19 Construction companies are not allowed to transport anything except the building materialPrivate offices have been asked to work from home on full strength Banks stocks market life and health insurance companies pharma companies electricitywater supply and telecommunication will work from their office premises Nonessential government offices will work at 50 37 employee strength The pandemicrelated offices will work full strength Visitors will not be allowed in government offices Physical meetings are discouraged and online meets preferredAll religious places will remain closed to the devotees The caretakers will be allowed inside Schools private coaching classes will be shut Schools will be allowed to open only for conducting the forthcoming board examsNewspaper printing and circulation has been allowed The vendors and delivery staff have been asked to get vaccinatedHousing societies with five and more positive patients will be converted into a mini containment zone A display board will be put and entry of outsiders barredIn a relief to the people who must go out for providing essential services and the jobs allowed under new guidelines public transport will run but without commuters in standing and if need be the carrying capacity would be reduced to 5037 Private vehicles taxis and autorickshaws have been allowed under restrictions like limited passengersWhat will be shutMalls hotels restaurants bars gyms salons spas swimming pools movie halls multiplexes auditoriums drama theatresReligious places private officesWhat will be operationalGrocery medicine shops vegetablegrain marketGovt offices on 5037 capacityBanking insurance medical insurance officesPublic transport with limited seating capacityRickshaws taxis driver 2Manufacturing industriesCurbsWeekend lockdown starting Friday 8 pm till Monday 7 amDaily curfew from 8 pm to next morning 7amBan on assembly of five or more people throughout the day