A day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the State Covid Task Force decided to relax the timings of shops, restaurants and eateries, Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte on Tuesday issued orders to this effect, applicable immediately. The previous guidelines on preventing crowding and maintaining Covid-appropriate behaviour have not been relaxed though.

The shops and other establishments will remain open till 11 pm, while restaurants and eateries will be shut at midnight. As per the BMC, some hotels and restaurants’ licences have 1.30 am as the closing time but they too have to close at midnight.