Roads and footpaths continued to be deserted on Wednesday
MUMBAI: The state cabinet on Wednesday unanimously decided to extend the lockdownlike restrictions in Maharashtra for another fortnight, that is, from May 1 to 15, after the current fortnight of curbs ends at the end of this month. The decision came on a day the state recorded 985 Covid deaths, its highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic.
While public health minister Rajesh Tope said all cabinet ministers were unanimous that the curbs be extended to check the spread of Covid-19, NGOs working for the poor and representatives of the retail sector and restaurants said the restrictions were having a serious adverse impact and they had expected some relief.
Amid rising Covid-19 cases, state governments rely on curfew raj
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Last Updated: Apr 10, 2021, 07:28 AM IST
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Despite last year’s experience, states are resorting to night curfews, partial lockdown and even complete lockdown to tame the Covid-19 pandemic. Here is a look at restrictions imposed in different states:
With the highest number of cases, Maharashtra has clamped night curfew from April 5.
In the wake of the second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, several states have resorted to night curfews, partial lockdown or complete lockdown. Around the same time last year, the infection level was nowhere near what it is today in most places, though the reported cases of infection went up steadily despite the lockdown. The harshest measure proved insufficient to quell the spread of the pandemic, but it had a massive impact on the economy. Last year’s experience, however, failed to provide any valuable lesson for different state administrations. Here is a
Maharashtra hospitality bodies launch campaign to protest COVID-19 restrictions
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Last Updated: Apr 08, 2021, 09:19 AM IST
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Hospitality associations across the state, including the FHRAI, HRAWI, NRAI, AHAR and other local bodies, will organise a silent protest outside all hotels and restaurants on Thursday, it added.
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Hospitality associations across Maharashtra have formed an umbrella body United Hospitality Forum (UHF) and initiated a campaign #MissionRoziRoti to protest against the recent restrictions imposed on the sector by the state government amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. The latest Break The Chain guidelines have spelled a death knell for the industry, causing huge loss to jobs, revenues and the spirit of enterprise, the associations said in a statement.
Explained: How fresh Covid curbs may be a death knell for hospitality sector
With many states imposing localised lockdowns and night curfews, restaurants and similar establishments in the country are again staring at an existential crisis. Some experts say that the fresh Covid-19 curbs could be a final blow to many hospitality sector businesses.
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UPDATED: April 8, 2021 14:23 IST
India s vast hspitality sector is seriously worried after many state governments have imposed fresh Covid-19 curbs like night curfews. (Photo: Reuters/Representational image)
It has been less than six months since the struggling hospitality sector found some footing after bearing the brunt of the strict nationwide lockdown for most parts of 2020. The sector suffered massive losses due to the stringent eight-month lockdown that was imposed to contain the pandemic’s first wave in India.
Representative image
Mumbai: Sporadic protests by traders erupted on Day Two of the Covid-19 shutdown, especially in Chembur and Navi Mumbai.
On Wednesday, hoteliers’ federations AHAR, HRAWI and NRAI along with other district associations formed the United Hospitality Forum of Maharashtra (UHFM) to protest against what it called “oppressive steps” taken by the state government in its bid to control the pandemic. UHFM will conduct silent protests at various restaurants across Maharashtra at 12.30pm on Thursday.
AHAR president Shivanand Shetty said, “Lakhs of families are dependent on this industry. So we have formed this forum to voice our protest and press for measures that are conducive for us to do business.”