PremiumAmid mounting pressure from various quarters to provide further relaxations in Covid-19 curbs enforced in the state, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday extended working hours for hotels and restaurants till 10 pm. As of now, hotels and restaurants in the state were allowed to operate till 4 pm only.
The shopping malls in the state can also remain open till 10 pm, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said. Only people vaccinated with both doses of Covid-19 vaccines will be allowed in malls, he added.
In shopping malls, staff needs to be fully vaccinated, social distancing needs to be maintained in seating arrangements. "Staff members to be completely vaccinated, allowed to work only after 14 days from second dose," the state government said.
For quite some time, restaurant owners, shopping malls and other establishments have been demanding that the state government extend the current timings.
Maharashtra govt issues SOPs
Detailed guidelines regarding the same were issued by the state government today. The state has announced major relaxations from 15 August.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has already issued SOPs regarding the reopening of schools in the state.
In rural areas, physical classes for 5 to 7 and 8 to 12 in urban areas will resume from 17 August.
According to guidelines issued, a four-member panel shall be formed to make decisions on opening schools in their respective jurisdiction. This panel shall be headed by the Municipal Commissioner and District Collector of respective districts and cities.
All teachers and school staff need to be fully vaccinated before the opening of schools. Schools shall also be allowed to function in two different shifts.
One student should seat on one bench and a distance of 6 metres must be maintained between two benches. Parents will not be allowed in order to avoid overcrowding at school premises.
Social gatherings and functions in schools will remain prohibited under the current SOPs. Schools have been asked to ensure arrangements for hand wash and sanitisation.
Local authorities have been asked to look at the decline in Covid case count in the last 30 days in areas where the schools are to be re-opened.
Basic Covid-19 norms like social distancing, sanitisation and mask-wearing are a must.
Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 5,609 fresh Covid-19 cases and 137 fatalities, including the highest 46 in the Pune region, while 7,568 patients recovered, a state health department official said.
With the new additions, the tally of infections and the death toll in Maharashtra rose to 63,63,442 and 1,34,201, respectively, the official said. The number of recoveries has increased to 61,59,676, leaving the state with 66,123 active cases.
Maharashtra's case recovery rate now stands at 96.8% and the fatality rate is 2.01%.
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