Maharashtra govt extends restaurants, shops timings; amusement parks to open from Oct 22

By Team Newsable | First Published Oct 18, 2021, 8:35 PM IST

The announcement comes after a high-level meeting between Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the Covid task force.

With Covid-19 cases gradually decreasing, the Maharashtra government on Monday further eased the Covid-19 restrictions in the state and allowed amusement parks to reopen from Friday while shops and restaurants will be permitted to stay open beyond 10 pm.

However, water rides in amusement parks will remain suspended, for now.

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The announcement comes after a high-level meeting between Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the Covid task force.

“After meeting between Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Covid task force, it has been decided to extend the timing of the restaurants and shops. It has also been decided to open amusement parks from 22nd Oct, amusement parks can be operated except water rides,” said Maharashtra CMO on Monday.

“The issue of vaccination to children also discussed in the meeting. CM instructed the Health Department to be in touch with Central government to keep the stock of the vaccination for children ready,” Maharashtra CMO added.

Also read: Karnataka to reopen schools for classes 1-5 soon, announcement in 2 days: CM Basavaraj Bommai

As cinema halls are scheduled to open from October 22 in the state, cinema owners and exhibitors association met the Chief Minister.

"The CM has said that cinema halls must be reopened after checking all the norms and guidelines. Issues related to single screen also discussed in the meeting about the GST and other taxes," stated the CMO.

Last week, the Maharashtra government issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cinema halls, auditoriums and drama theatres, allowing them to operate at half of the total capacity Social distancing and other Covid-19-related norms must be followed, said the guidelines.

Show times of cinema halls will have to be “staggered", and the sale of only packaged food and beverages will be allowed. Food and beverages cannot be taken inside the screening auditorium. Cinema halls in containment zones will continue to remain closed, the government had said. Cinema-goers will be required to wear masks. Sanitisers should be available inside the halls, toilets and in other places.

Maharashtra on Sunday reported 1,715 new coronavirus cases, taking the state’s infection tally to 65,91,697, while 29 deaths pushed the toll to 1,39,789, the health department said. As on Sunday, there were 28,631 active cases in Maharashtra, it said.

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