Mumbai unlock 1.0 news: Today's updates

As the Central and state governments allow phase-wise relaxation in curbs to get the life up and running again following over two months of lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19, we bring you the latest updates from Mumbai.
* Easing yet another set of curbs, the Maharashtra administration on Thursday allowed salons and beauty parlours to reopen starting June 28 in red zones such as Mumbai, but for select services. According to a notification, entry will be with prior appointment. And only select services like haircuts, dyeing, waxing, threading will be allowed. Skin-related services are not permitted.
More flexibility in use of taxis and autos, opening up of gyms and spas, and allowing offices to bring in 25-30% of staff are also measures presently under consideration.
* The state government on Thursday announced a slew of measures to attract business. All FDI and investments above Rs 50 crore in non-hazardous industrial categories will be granted a ‘MahaLicence’ within 48 hours. However, they must first obtain land either from MIDC or a private entity. All approvals and NOCs will be speeded up through a single window, but industries requiring an environmental clearance will have to obtain that before they apply for a licence.
* Even as the Bhiwandi-Nizampura civic body imposed another 15-day lockdown to tackle rising cases of the virus, a mosque in Bhiwandi has converted its hall into a makeshift Covid care centre with five oxygen-supported beds for patients awaiting a hospital bed, all at no cost. Over the last eight days, it has come to the aid of over 108 patients, with plans to set up five more beds. While two doctors handle the patients on site, volunteers have also provided 15 oxygen cylinders to the homes of eight patients with mild symptoms.
* Now, civic bodies, collectors can hire pvt ambulances at fixed cost
Three months into the pandemic, the state has come out with an ambulance policy to regulate their charges and address the problem of shortage. Primarily, the policy will empower corporations and district collectors to hire private ambulances at a cost fixed by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) for Covid patients.
Further, the policy will play the crucial role of reinforcing the price cap on ambulances the RTA had introduced in 2014 but did not implement in letter and spirit. According to the diktat, an advanced ambulance with a life support system cannot charge more than Rs 1,190 for 0 to 25km or two hours and an additional Rs 25 for every extra kilometre. Similarly, an Omni ambulance can charge Rs 650 for the distance and Sumo Rs 840.
* Despite the significant jump in cases in the state, health minister Rajesh Tope said doubling rate of cases in the state has gone up to 30 days, which he claimed was an indicator of things being on the right track. He also said that Mumbai is leading in the number of tests. which is currently 23,424 tests per million. Compared to that, the state has carried out around 6,883 tests per million.