Level 3 curbs in Maha to continue as Delta Plus emerges as ‘variant of concern’

In view of cases of the Delta plus variant of Covid19 emerging in Maharashtra the state government on Friday announced statelevel trigger for imposing restrictions in administrative units irrespective of weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy percentageWeekly positivity rate regarding levels of restrictions will be determined on the basis of RTPCR tests and not rapid antigen or other tests the state government said and described Delta plus as a variant of concernRestrictions in administrative units will remain at a level not below 3 according to new guidelines issued as part of a government notification which also calls for pushing for 70 per cent vaccination of eligible population in the state The move indicates tightening of restrictions to curb any surge in cases after some people were detected with the highly infectious Delta plus variant of coronavirusDelta plus has been declared a variant of concern by the Centre The notification amends the fivelevel unlock plan announced by the Maharashtra government earlier this month Delta plus cases have been found in Ratnagiri Jalgaon and some other districts of the state requiring stricter curbs the notification saidStatelevel trigger means that irrespective of the weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy level 3 restrictions will continue in administrative units till the district disaster management authority takes a call to withdraw them according to the notification Essential shops and establishments can remain open till 4pm on all days in areas falling under level 3 of the fivestep unlock planAlso ReadMaha becomes first state to administer 3 cr Covid19 vaccine doses Health deptNonessential shops and establishments can remain open till 4pm on weekdays it said Restaurants will be allowed dinein facility with 50 per cent capacity till 4pm on weekdays and takeaways and home deliveries after that the notification said Use of suburban trains will be only for medical staff and personnel engaged in essential services it said Gyms and salons will remain open till 4 pm at 50 per cent capacity the government order saidLevel 3 curbs will be minimum and if they have to be lowered the disaster management authority will take a call it said If there is an upward trend in number of coronavirus positive cases the district disaster management authority will impose higherlevel of restrictions the order saidAttempts must be made to achieve 70 per cent vaccination of eligible population and focus should on test track and treat methodology to contain the spread of Covid19 it said The government order said flying squads will enforce Covid19appropriate behaviour among people and impose fines for violations Earlier this month Maharashtra had announced a fivestep unlock plan after the deadly second wave of Covid19 appeared to be ebbing Under the plan restrictions in cities and districts were decided according to the weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever