Maharashtra govt announces new COVID-19 guidelines – Check details

KEY STORY

• A day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held talks with the members of the state COVID-19 task force, the Maharashtra government announced new COVID-19 guidelines.

• With Christmas festivities, weddings, and New Year’s receptions likely to increase the risk of contamination, the Disaster Management Act, 2005 has decided to impose some additional restrictions on the entire state which will be in effect from midnight today.

• As per the new directive, a gathering of more than 5 persons in public places across the state is prohibited from 9 pm to 6 am.

• Only 100 people will be allowed in indoor weddings and not more than 250 in outdoor weddings.

  Restaurants, gyms, cinema halls to operate at 50 per cent capacity

  Restaurants, gyms, spa, hotel, theatre and cinema halls will now operate at 50 per cent capacity and as per the state government, all of them will have to declare their full potential as well as 50 per cent capacity.

  For other social, political, religious events also the number of attendees should not be more than 100 and in open space, this number should not be more than 250 or 25 per cent of the capacity of the space whichever is less.

  In case of other social, political or religious functions and gatherings, where the presence of attendees is generally continual throughout the function, the total number of attendees should also not exceed 100 for enclosed spaces and 250 for open to sky spaces, or 25 per cent of the capacity of such spaces, whichever is less.

  Further restrictions should be considered in the future: CM

  In the case of sports events or competitions, these may be held with the number of spectators not exceeding 25 per cent of the seating capacity of the venue, the notification read.

  The number of patients is doubling, especially in Europe as well as in the United Kingdom, due to the Omicron variant.

  The current nature of the restrictions is preliminary and if they are not imposed now, it may be time to impose more stringent restrictions in the future, the notification read and urged people to follow the rules and use masks properly.

  Any shop, establishment, mall, event, gathering where a member of the public has a right to come and get services must be manned by fully vaccinated persons and all visitors, customers for such places shall be fully vaccinated.