Avoid picnic spots to curb Covid-19 spread: Pune cops

PUNE: Several police stations under the Pune rural police have issued notices appealing people to not visit popular picnic spots in Lonavla, Khandala, Mulshi, Pavana, Junnar, Otur and other places during the monsoon, to check the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Scenic valleys, waterfalls, catchment areas of dams, hill, viewpoints, resorts and usually draw large number of tourists during the monsoon, but the police said most of these spots have been closed while hotels, restaurants and resorts too are shut.
“Our police stations have issued notices with a view to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in their areas. Hotels and resorts are not allowed to open as of now. Local police have also decided not to allow people at picnic sites such as famous points on hills, forts, waterfalls, lakes among others. People might gather at these spots in large numbers and there would be no regard for social distancing,” Sandeep Patil, superintendent of police, Pune rural, said.
He added that a group of restaurant, hotel and resort operators had approached the state government seeking permission to resume their business activities with due care and sanitized facilities. “However, the state government is yet to give them permission. It is likely to issue fresh orders on July 1 and we will follow them,” Patil said.