New lockdown rules in Maharashtra; Here's all you need to know!

The government imposed new lockdown rules in Maharashtra on Sunday with putting restrictions on various activities. Check all of them below!

Keeping in view the spur in the daily cases of Coronavirus, the state government announced fresh lockdown rules in Maharashtra on Sunday. It has included weekend lockdowns and night curfew in the state.

According to the rules, a night curfew will be imposed in the state from 8 pm to 7 am. On the other hand, a weekend lockdown will start from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday.

Gatherings of five or more than five people have also been barred by the government throughout the day. The rules will be effective from April 5, Monday.

Apart from this, shopping malls, restaurants, eateries and bars will only provide "take-away" facilities. However, those shops which provide essential services will remain open including those situated inside the malls.

Essential services allowed

The essential services allowed to function in the state are hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, Medical insurance offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and other medical and health services.

Groceries, vegetable shops, dairies, bakeries, confectioneries, food shops are also allowed to operate.

Also, services related to the functioning of offices of diplomats of various countries are allowed.

The government has also allowed the transport of goods and agriculture re-related activities along with accredited media.

Earlier this week, the Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray had warned of the lockdown-like situation.

The government has also asked private firms to follow the "work-from-home" model. Government offices, though, will be allowed to operate but with 50 per cent staff. 

Moreover, religious places, gyms, amusement parks and indoor sports complexes will also face complete closure. Parks, playgrounds, beaches, salons and beauty parlours will also remain closed.

Theatre and Drama complexes will not be open, as per the new rules. However, the government has allowed film and television shoots with social distancing norms in place.

E-commerce activities, along with industrial, construction, and farming activities have been allowed by the government.

With political rallies banned, the government has also ordered for only 50 per cent capacity to be allowed in public transport. The new rules, though, have not included flights and trains.

The housing societies having five or more COVID cases will be declared containment zones. In case of any violations regarding this will cause a fine of up to Rs 10,000.

The government also mentioned in the order that the shop owners of essential services and the people working at such places need to be vaccinated at the earliest.

As per the orders, the shops should also put a transparent shield between shop people and the customers.

The state government has mentioned that till the time the home delivery personnel get the vaccine, they will need to carry a negative Coronavirus report valid up to 15 days.

New rules for public transport

Several restrictions have been put by the government for public transportation. The autorickshaws can only take two people excluding the driver.

The taxis will carry 50% of the capacity of the vehicle, apart from the driver. If the passenger in the taxi is not wearing a mask, he/she will have to pay the fine of Rs 500, along with the driver.

However, buses will be able to carry passengers to the full capacity but with no standing passenger. 

All the vehicles have to be sanitised after every trip as mentioned in the order. The drivers and other staff of public transport will have to get vaccinated at the earliest. Till that time, they will also need to carry a negative Coronavirus report valid for up to 15 days. This rule will come into force from April 10. Although, taxis and auto drivers can be exempted from this rule if they isolate themselves from the customers with a plastic sheet.

Maharashtra is observing 50,000 COVID cases daily for the last few days.

Also Read: Night curfew imposed in Maharashtra from March 28

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