Even as the state lifted certain restrictions, such as resuming local trains for fully vaccinated passengers and prolonging the time parks and beaches were open, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warned of another shutdown if Covid-19 cases continued to rise.
In his Independence Day address on August 15, Thackeray urged people to behave in a Covid-appropriate manner, emphasising the restricted availability of medicinal oxygen.
“Right now, we’re loosening the rules. Because Covid has not yet been eradicated, we must be vigilant. We will have no choice but to reimpose the lockdown if the number of Covid cases rises, given the limited availability of medical oxygen,” he stated.
The state has authorised the general public to board local trains starting on July 4th, as long as they have been properly vaccinated for 14 days. At 53 suburban stations in Mumbai, an offline verification system for giving monthly passes to fully immunised people to allow them to ride local trains has already commenced. Some restrictions have also been lifted, allowing malls, restaurants, gyms, hairdressers, and spas to reopen.
As part of new COVID-19 limitations, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation stated on Monday that all public gardens, playgrounds, chowpatties, and beaches in Mumbai will now be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The (BMC) had previously allowed these locations to open to the public from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. on June 4 of this year.
Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said the BMC published new guidelines under the ‘Break the Chain’ programme on Sunday, citing powers granted by the Maharashtra government to choose schedules. On Monday, Chahal announced that public spaces, gardens, beaches, and seafronts will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The state working force on COVID-19 is opposed to schools and institutions opening on August 17. Thackeray will meet with members of the task team in the near future to make a final decision.
Following a meeting, the task committee recommended providing additional relaxations in regulations while taking precautions. After collecting various recommendations and instructions from doctors, specialists, and government departments, the state government is now formulating new guidelines.
Malls, cinema halls, theatres, religious venues, and religious gatherings were all exempt from the relaxations enacted last week, according to the state administration.
The government had authorised establishments to stay open until 8 p.m. in 25 districts, while 11 areas remained under level-3 limitations due to a higher COVID-19 positive rate. Restaurant owners, mall owners, and other businesses have been pleading with the government to continue the current schedules. Several artists have also requested that theatres be permitted to operate with limitations. The government is also being pressed to open religious institutions.
