BMC makes COVID-19 negative report mandatory to enter shopping malls in Mumbai
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday announced that it will make the Rapid Antigen Test facility to take samples for Covid-19 testing compulsory for all malls in the city. The new rule will come into effect from March 22.
FollowMumbai: Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state government has imposed strict restrictions on the movement of people. In the latest move to curb the rise in Covid cases, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made a Covid-19 negative report mandatory for entering shopping malls.
According to reports, the new rules will come into effect from March 22, next Monday. If people are not carrying a negative report, they will be tested at the entrance.
"A team will be designated at the entrance for this very purpose. The details are being worked out," the Mumbai civic body said.
The restriction has been announced a day after the western state on Thursday recorded 25,833 new coronavirus cases, the highest one-day spike since last March when the first coronavirus infection was detected.
CM Thackeray had met mall owners earlier and given a last warning on flouting of Covid-19 protocols.
The Mumbai Mayor also underlined that all Mumbaikars need to work together to avert another lockdown.
"The Maharashtra Chief Minister (Uddhav Thackeray) has already given an ultimatum to the people of the state whether they want a lockdown to be imposed or not. The onus is on the public now," she had further said.
Meanwhile, the city's recovery rate has risen to 91% now while its growth rise has soared to 0.51% as Mumbai locals reopen for the general public under restricted timings. BMC reported that 36,37,930 samples have been tested to date with a 9.62% positivity rate.
