Maharashtra Curfew And Weekend Lockdown: What's Allowed Vs Banned

The Maharashtra government has announced night curfew and weekend restriction in the state from 8pm on April 5 (Monday) to the end of the month to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Maharashtra, which recorded 57,074 fresh infections in the last 24 hours--its highest one-day rise--counts more than half of India¡¯s total daily Covid-19 cases, which also breached the 1 lakh number for the first time ever. Here¡¯s the complete category-wise breakdown of the lockdown guidelines.

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Maharashtra's new Covid-19 restrictions

As per new rules, section 144 will be imposed in Maharashtra state. A night curfew would be in place in Maharashtra from 8 pm to 7 am from Monday to Friday, which means no more than 5 people can gather at a public place. On weekends, there will be a complete shutdown. Essential and medical services are exempt from this.

Essential services

Hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, Medical insurance offices, pharmacies, Pharmaceutical companies, other medical and health services; groceries, vegetables shops, dairies, bakeries, confectionaries, food shops; public transport, including trains, taxis, autos and public buses; services related to the functioning of offices of diplomats of various countries; pre-monsoon activities by local authorities; all public services by local authorities; transport of goods and agriculture-related activities; e-commerce; accredited media; and services designated as essential by local disaster management authorities.

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Maharashtra Outdoor Activity

All beaches/ gardens/ public grounds to remain closed from 8 pm to 7 am on weekdays and from 8 pm Friday to 7 am Monday. Between 7 am to 8 pm on Monday to Friday, visitors need to follow strictly covid appropriate behaviour. Local authorities to ensure that such places are closely supervised and in case of crowding, they may close down the same.

Shops, Markets & Malls in Maharashtra

All shops, markets and malls to remain closed throughout the day except for essential services, which may continue to operate while sticking to social distancing norms. Essential shops owners and person working at all shops to get vaccinated at the earliest, as per GoI¡¯s guidelines

Public and Private Transportation

All persons using public transport to compulsorily wear masks in a proper manner barring which fine of Rs 500 will be imposed on the offenders. All vehicles to be sanitized after every trip. Auto rickshaws can carry up to two passengers, while public transport will run at 50 per cent capacity. No standing passengers will be allowed on buses.

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All public transport--drivers and other staff coming into contact with the public--to get vaccinated at the earliest, as per the Centre¡¯s criteria. Till then, they are to carry a negative coronavirus result certificate, valid up to 15 days. This rule will come into effect from April 10. Those flouting the rules will be fined Rs 1,000. However, if a driver isolates himself or herself through a plastic sheet or otherwise he or she may be exempted from this requirement.

In the case of out-station trains, railway authorities are to ensure that there are no standing passengers in the general compartment and all passengers use masks. Private vehicles including private buses can ply normally, but the latter will have to ensure that all the passengers are seated.

Offices in Maharashtra

All private offices to remain closed except banks, telecom providers, electricity providers and insurance companies. All government offices to function with 50 per cent attendance except those required for the-response to Covid-19 pandemic. No visitors will be allowed in government offices and companies.

Recreation and Entertainment

All cinema halls, drama theatres and auditoriums, amusement parks/ arcades/ video game parlours, water parks, clubs, swimming pools, gyms and sports complexes to remain closed. All persons connected with these establishments should get vaccinated at the earliest, as per GoI guidelines so that reopening of these may be achieved at the earliest.

Shooting for films/ serials/ advertisement to be allowed if there aren¡¯t a large number of artists; all staff engaged as well as artists to carry negative RT-PCR test certificate valid for 15 days; in case a quarantine bubble is created for the artists and staff they may be allowed by concerned disaster management authority.

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Bars, Restaurants, Hotels in Maharashtra

All restaurants and bars to remain closed, except for those inside the campus and integral parts of hotels. Take away orders, parcels and home delivery services to be allowed between 7 am to 8 pm from Monday to Friday; and only home delivery services on weekends. Restaurants and bars inside hotels are to be open only for in-house guests. In no circumstance should outside guests be allowed.

All personnel belonging to home delivery services to be vaccinated at the earliest as per GoI guidelines. However, in case the person is not vaccinated, he will have to carry a negative RT-PCR report which will be valid till 15 days. This rule will be applicable from 10th April, 2021. Failing which, a fine of Rs 1,000/- will be levied on the offender and a fine of Rs 10,000 for the Establishment. Repeated offenders may be withdrawn licenses or permissions for operations till notification for Covid-19 pandemic remains in force.

Religious, Social, Cultural Functions

All religious places of worship, barber shops/ Spa/ Salon/ Beauty Parlours to remain closed. No religious, political, social or cultural program shall take place. Marriages will be allowed with 50 per cent capacity, and all staff members attending to visitors will have to be vaccinated or can carry a negative RT-PCR report which will be valid till 15 days. Failing to do so will lead to a fine of Rs 1,000/- on the offender and Rs 10,000 on the Establishment. Funerals are to be allowed with a maximum of 20 people.

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Schools and Colleges in Maharashtra

Schools, colleges and all private coaching classes of any kind to remain closed. All the staff that may be used for conducting class X and XII exams must be either vaccinated or should carry a negative RT-PCR certificate, valid for 48 hours.

For exams that are being conducted by any board, university or authority outside the state, denial of which may lead to hardships for students residing in Maharashtra may be allowed by concerned departments under intimation to concern disaster management authority.

Manufacturing Sector

The sector can continue to operate with following conditions: factories and manufacturing units to scan body temperature of labourers pre- entry; all staff engaged in the activity to get vaccinated at the earliest, as per criteria of GoI; if a labourers/ worker found positive, other laborers who have come into active contact with him to be quarantined with pay; factories/ units with more than 500 workers to set up their own quarantine facilities; in case of any worker found to be positive, unit to be closed until completely sanitised; lunch and tea breaks to be staggered for avoiding crowding; no common eating places; common toilet facilities to be sanitised frequently.

If a worker is found positive he or she would be allowed medical leave and cannot be discontinued during this absence. For this reason, he or she will be entitled for full wages that he or she might have earned had he or she not contacted the coronavirus.

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Construction Activity

The construction activity is to be allowed only for sites where labourers are living on-site. Movement to and fro from outside must be avoided, except for the purposed of material movements. Everyone engaged in the activity will have to be vaccinated or can carry a negative RT-PCR report which will be valid till 15 days. Defaults will lead to a fine of 10,000/- for the developer of the construction site and repeated defaults may lead to closure of the site till existence of notification of Covid-19 epidemic.

Cooperative Society

Any cooperative housing society having more than 5 active Covid-19 positive cases will be treated as a micro containment zone. Such societies shall put up a board at the outside gate informing visitors and deny them entry. All restrictions of micro-containment zones like control over ingress and egress shall be monitored by the society.

In case of default the society may be fined Rs 10,000/- in the first instance. Later instances may attract higher fines as decided by local authorities. This fine may be used to employ supervising personnel to ensure compliance of sop by the society.

All co-operative housing society (CHS) are advised to ensure that all persons coming into the building on a regular basis get their RT-PCR test done till they are vaccinated as per government norms.