At a vaccination drive in Narayan Peth in Pune. (Express Photo: Pavan Khengre) With consent from the state government, Pune is likely to further relax Covid-19 restrictions and lockdown norms, with a constant decrease in the number of critical patients and those on oxygen supply. A drop in daily positivity rate has also been recorded at below 5 per cent.
The PMC has been witnessed a slowdown in daily positivity as low as 3 per cent in the last few days despite relaxation in most lockdown norms. This has led to an increase in demand from various sectors to further relax restrictions.
The number of critical patients in the city have dropped to 225 as against over 300 a month ago. Also, the number of those in need of oxygen has dropped from over 400 in the last month to around 330 now. Thus, there is no stress on hospital infrastructure leading to closure of the jumbo Covid centre set up in College of Engineering Pune.
Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has hinted at increasing timings of shops from 4 pm to 7 pm after the state government’s nod. However, this has made other sectors get relaxation in rules for their units.
“The dine-in facility in restaurants should be allowed till 10.30 pm as the industry has suffered a lot during the pandemic. The existing permission to operate dine-in till 4 pm and parcel service after that is not helping restaurants recover losses,” said BJP legislator Siddarth Shirole from Shivajinagar Assembly constituency, in a communication to the chief minister.
He further urged the state government to relax timings for gymnasiums till 8 pm. “Gyms are not able to sustain due to timing restrictions. They are taking all care, including allowing only vaccinated people to avail their services but timing restrictions are not helping their business. They should be allowed to operate till 8 pm or many more gyms will shut down,” Shirole said.
Except for malls and classroom teaching in educational institutes, the PMC has allowed operations in various sectors with timing restrictions and conditions of Covid-appropriate behaviour.
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