Delta Plus brings whole Maharashtra under Mumbai-type restrictions

The state government on Friday revised the fivelevel 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 Coronavirusrsquos Delta Plus variant was fuelling the potentiality of an imminent and more severe third wave over a wider geographical areaOne of the actions determined by the government are to achieve vaccination of 70 per cent of the population PicAshish RajeHenceforth 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 Mumbairsquos civic body chose not to upgradeThe 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 boxThe 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 weeksrsquo trendsHowever before accepting a lower level of restrictions the two weeksrsquo trend will be considered The weekly positivity rate will be determined only on the basis of RTPCR 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 governmentThe order signed by Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte explained the need for revision ldquoA consortium of laboratories for Whole Genome Sequencing in the context of Covid19 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 responserdquo the order statedAccording to Health Minister Rajesh Tope the state has reported its first Covid19 death linked to Delta Plus variant Out of the 21 cases an 80yearold woman with comorbidities succumbedldquoThe VOC has been found in Maharashtrarsquos 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 promulgatedrdquo added the orderLevel 3 restrictionsgtgt No movement post 5 pm shops to operate from 7 am to 4 pm malls theatres and single screens to remain closedgtgt Restaurants at 5037 capacity till 4 pm and then for deliveriesgtgt Local trains only for essential services staff Public places and parks from 5 am to 9 pmgtgt Private offices to be open on all days till 4 pm government offices at 50 per cent capacitygtgt Sports activities from 5 am to 9 am and 6 pm to 9 pmgtgt 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 peoplegtgt Society meetings and election rallies at 5037 attendancegtgt Ecommerce to operate Salons and gyms at 5037 capacity and with appointments only4 pmTime till which private offices can operate5037Permitted capacity at gyms salons and political rallies