PUNE: No movement will be allowed on the city’s streets, except for essential service staff and others on the list of exemptions, on the first weekend lockdown that started Friday 6pm and will last till Monday 7am as part of the state’s ‘break the chain’ order.
The Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations on Friday issued identical orders specifying the exemptions and restrictions for the weekend lockdown.
On April 9 and 10, all shops except those that sell milk and medicines will remain shut. Milk supply/outlets can operate from 6am to 11am. No one can step out of their buildings to even visit restaurants or food stalls for a takeaway; they must call the restaurant directly or opt for app-based food delivery. Delivery of e-commerce shipments and essentials is also allowed.
Public transport services like PMPML and app-based cab services like Uber and Ola would be allowed only for essential purposes.
Maids, domestic help, caregivers, nurses, drivers, and cooks would be allowed to travel from 7am to 10pm on all days, the orders stated.
“We have made an appeal to all establishments to get all eligible employees vaccinated as soon as possible,” Pune municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar said.
The order stated that the vaccination programme would not be affected through the week.
Food joints — hotels, restaurants, and bars — can provide home deliveries, but the orders said customers would not be allowed to go to the restaurants to collect parcels. However, given that some important examinations are scheduled in the coming days, the administration has allowed messes and canteens to offer parcel service to students.
Students accompanied by a parent would be allowed to travel to their examination centres. They must carry their examination admit cards or hall tickets, the orders said.
Further, construction activity can continue through the weekend at projects with on-site accommodation for workers.
Starting Monday, on weekdays, the administration has allowed home delivery of liquor from 7am to 6pm. Ophthalmology services and shops can also operate during this window on weekdays, the orders said.
On Saturday, district guardian minister and deputy chief minister is scheduled to chair a Covid-19 review meeting, to be attended by senior government, police, and civic officials from Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Pune rural. Issues such as the lockdown, Covid-19 spread in the district, bed and vaccine availability are on the agenda, an official in the know said.
On Thursday, owners of non-essential shops gathered on Laxmi Road in Camp, wearing black badges and holding up banners in protest against the order for the closure of all shops except those selling essential commodities, till the end of the month.
The protest was organized by the Federation of Trade Associations of Pune. The protesting traders had initially planned to open their shops on Friday in protest, but decided to wait till Monday after chief minister Uddhav Thackeray promised them a breakthrough.