In a first, India on Monday reported covid-19 cases in the last 24-hour. Prior to this, the country’s highest surge was recorded at 97,894 on September 16 last year. After which the number of cases witnessed a sharp drop until late February. Of the total cases, over 57,700 infections have been reports from Maharashtra.
The highest surge since the beginning of the pandemic comes a day after PM Narendra Modi’s meeting with health authorities. Taking note of high surge, the PM’s office in a statement said that the laxity in maintaining covid appropriate behavior. And lack of effective implementation of containment measures have led to the abated spike in a number of daily cases.
In view of high surge in cases, PM Modi has also sent special task forces to Punjab, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh.
Weekend Lockdown, Night Curfew & Containment Zone Rules: Maharashtra Shuts Down to Battle Covid-19
The Maharashtra Cabinet, which met today amid an unprecedented rise in Covid-19 cases in both Mumbai and across the state to discuss the possibility of a lockdown, may have decided against it but the authorities have put severe restrictions in place that are similar to when the country came to a standstill last year when the pandemic broke.
Termed as ‘Break the Chain Restrictions’, these curbs will remain in place till April 30.
These include:
- All private offices to enforce work from home with the exception of SBI Bank, stock market, insurance companies, medical offices, medical offices, telecom, and financial service-providing firms. Disaster management firms, electricity, and water supply offices have been allowed to function. Government offices will work at 50 percent capacity.
- Restaurants, theatres, multiplexes to shut down
- Complete lockdown on the weekends
- Public and private transport will not be stopped. But no standing passengers in buses and outstation trains. Two passengers in autorickshaws. Half of the permitted passengers in taxis.
- No restrictions on farming-related activities. Transportation of agricultural products and foodgrain will be allowed.
- Section 144 to be imposed through the day and night curfew during the night
- More than five people can’t gather at one place between 7 am to 8 pm
- One cannot leave their home without valid proper reason between 8 pm and 7 am
- Only essential services are excluded
- All public places like parks, beaches will stay shut from 8 pm to 7 am
- If people crowd these areas through the day, these places will be shut completely too.
- All shops except grocery, medicines, vegetables, and those selling essential items will stay shut till April 30
- Malls, market places, and gyms will also remain closed till April 30
- All theatres, multiplexes, video parlors, pubs, swimming pools, sports complexes, auditoriums, waterparks to shut down completely
- Places of religious worship to shut for visitors. Priests and staff will be allowe
- Restaurants and bars to allow only allow takeaway and parcels between 7 am to 8 pm
- Barbershops, beauty parlors, spas, and salons will also remain shut
- Roadside vendors can also provide parcels from 7 am to 8 pm. In case, there is overcrowding, action will be taken against them.
- E-Commerce will be allowed from 7 am to 8 pm for home delivery only if the staff is vaccinated. If the delivery personnel are not vaccinated, the establishment will be fined Rs 1,000
- Newspaper sellers will also have to take the Covid-19 vaccine
- Schools, colleges, private classes to shut too with the only exception being Class 10th and 12th exams