Maharashtra: State relaxes COVID-19 restrictions; restaurants, eateries allowed to open till 12 am
The timings were announced a day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his meeting with the state's Covid-19 Task Force, decided to extend the operational hours of shops and restaurants.
FollowAs coronavirus cases went down significantly, the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra on Tuesday further eased restrictions imposed and allowed all restaurants and eateries to function till 12 am, while all other establishments that have been allowed to function by the government may be allowed to stay open till 11 pm.
The timings were announced a day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his meeting with the state's Covid-19 Task Force, decided to extend the operational hours of shops and restaurants.
"In the wake of the upcoming festival season, it is now felt that restrictions on time of functioning for various establishment like shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. will lead to more crowding in the shorter duration in which they arc currently allowed to function," stated the order issued by state Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte.
"All restaurants and eateries may be allowed to function till midnight i.e till 12 AM and all other establishments that have been allowed to function by the government may be allowed to function till 11 PM," it said.
Also read: Maharashtra govt extends restaurants, shops timings; amusement parks to open from Oct 22
“Local DDMA may restrict these timings further if so deemed fit due to any local requirements but shall not relax it further without the consent of SDMA,” the order signed by Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte stated.
“In order to prevent the transmission of the Covid 19 virus, restrictions like regulating of time, scrupulous adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour, requirements of service providers as well as visitors to be fully vaccinated, restrictions on occupancy etc. have been imposed” upon various establishments,” the government said in the fresh order.
Earlier on Monday the state government had also permitted amusement parks to reopen from October 22. However, water rides will continue to remain prohibited.
Maharashtra has recorded 1,485 new infections and 27 deaths in the preceding 24 hours. The active caseload has dropped to 28,008.
