Maharashtra has announced a five-level unlock plan beginning Monday, which will be based on Covid positivity rate and the availability of oxygen beds in the state.
The state government on Friday issued a five-level restriction plan to reopen the state, which is under a lockdown induced by the devastating second COVID-19 wave over the last few weeks.
The degree of relaxation has been decided as per the level of severity of Covid-19 in those districts. According to the guidelines, the situation will be assessed every Thursday by the Public Health Department.
Level 1 has the least restrictions while Level 5 will have the most.
In Level 1, restrictions will be placed in areas with a positivity rate of less than 5 per cent, and where less than 25 per cent of oxygen beds are occupied. Shops selling both essential and non-essential items, and malls and theatres, restaurants and public places for outdoor activities will be open.
Private and government offices, funerals, marriages, gyms and salons will also be allowed to function regularly. Locals trains will function regularly.
Level 2 restrictions will be followed where the positivity rate is below 5 per cent and oxygen bed occupancy is between 25 to 40 per cent. In this, restrictions will be as level 1, but with 50 per cent occupancy in theatres, gyms, marriages and restaurants. Use of local trains will be restricted with an exemption for medical and essential reasons.
Districts with a positivity rate between 5 and 10 per cent, or bed occupancy of over 40 per cent will follow Level 3 restrictions.
Stores will only be open till 4 am and malls and theatres will remain closed. Restaurants will only be allowed 50 per cent capacity till 4 pm on weekdays. Public places for outdoor activities will only be open from 5 am to 9 am. All private offices will only be allowed to function with 50 per cent capacity till 4 pm on working days.
Only 50 people will be permitted at marriages, 20 people in funerals. Construction will be permitted but either with only onsite labourers, or they must leave by 4 pm.
Level 4 only allows essential shops to open till 4 pm and pickup/home delivery for restaurants.
In Level 5 will follow nearly a complete lockdown situation. Essential shops will be open till 4 pm, only home delivery for restaurants.
What restrictions will Pune face?
Pune city was on Saturday placed in category 3 of the Maharashtra government's five-level plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions from June 7 based on the weekly positivity rate and the occupancy of oxygen beds, officials said.
The city's positivity rate stands at 6.11 per cent while the bed occupancy is 27.47 per cent, officials added.
Pune district on Saturday recorded 1,555 COVID-19 cased and 45 deaths.
Pune city recorded 380 cases on Saturday, while Pimpri Chinchwad, the district's second-biggest civic corporation, saw 224 cases. The addition in the rural and cantonment areas was 951, officials said.
As per an order issued by Pune Municipal Corporation, from June 7, hotels, restaurants, bars, and food courts have been allowed to function with 50 percent seating capacity on weekdays till 4 pm, while all shops can remain open till 4 pm.
Shops selling essential items will be allowed to operate on all days, and those dealing in non-essential items will operate only on weekdays.
The order, to come into force from Monday, said gardens, public grounds will remain open from 5 am to 9 am, and gyms, salons, beauty parlours etc can operate with 50 per cent capacity till 4 pm, though they cannot use air conditioners.
PMPML, Pune city's public transport system, will operate buses with 50 per cent seating, the order said.
While social, religious and entertainment programmes can be held with 50 percent seating capacity till 4 pm, marriages and funerals can have a maximum of 50 and 20 people respectively.
It added that people will not be allowed to move around after 5 pm without a valid reason.
Similar relaxation has been given in Pimpri Chinchwad as well where the positivity rate is 5.8 per cent, officials said.
