India News: The Maharashtra government on Thursday said Covid-19 restrictions have not been lifted, making a U-turn on an earlier announcement made by one of the
UPDATED: June 4, 2021 00:41 IST
The Maharashtra government on Thursday evening clarified that Covid restrictions have not been lifted anywhere in the state yet. (Photo: PTI file)
After Maharashtra cabinet minister Vijay Wadettiwar announced a five-level unlock plan for the state on Thursday afternoon, the state government issued a clarification a few hours later stating that no Covid restrictions have been lifted anywhere yet.
Relaxation of restrictions as per the situation in different areas is only under consideration and no decision has been taken, a statement from the chief minister s office (CMO) said.
Later, disaster management minister Wadettiwar also clarified that only in principle approval to phasing out of the curbs had been given so far and no final decision had been taken.
Detection of new Covid cases in the state hit a 75-day low on Sunday with fresh cases dropping under 20,000. A total of 18,600 cases were reported, the lowest since March 16, when 17,864 cases were detected. The state’s overall case tally has now reached 57,31,815. The state government on Sunday changed its pattern of restrictions and divided the state into municipal corporation areas and rural districts as separate components. All essential goods and services shops in the city, Thane and Pune, that is, places where the positivity rate is below 10%, will be allowed to operate for longer, from 7am to 2pm. Till now, these shops could operate only till 11am. Stay with TOI for more updates.
Bandra Railway Station wears a deserted look. File
| Photo Credit:
PTI
According to the order, District DMAs must review the positivity rates or percentage of oxygen bed occupancy on a weekly basis preferably on Fridays so that changes can be made applicable from coming Mondays.
The government of Maharashtra issued additional clarifications to its May 30 order, that extended the lockdown-like curbs in the State till June 15 and also announced that relaxations will be granted depending upon the COVID-19 positivity rate and availability of oxygen beds.
In municipal corporations or regions of districts with less than 10% COVID-19 positivity rate and where the availability of occupied oxygen beds will be less than 40%, all the establishments/shops engaged in essential commodities and services that are presently opened from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. can now remain open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., the government said in an order.
COVID-19: Maharashtra braces for 3rd wave as 8,000 children from 1 district test positive - Authorities were alarmed when they found at least 8,000 children and teenagers tested positive for the coronavirus in Ahmednagar in May.