Covid restrictions back in Maharashtra after cases of Delta plus emerge

Covid restrictions are back in Maharashtra. The state government has decided to impose stricter norms by reducing the five-level relaxation plan to three. The first two levels having maximum relaxations have been removed till further order. According to notification issued on Friday said “Given that the virus causing Covid019 is undergoing mutations in various geographies, and that these mutations are displaying more transmissibility and potential reductions in monoclonal antibody response, a state-level trigger mandating all the administrative units, irrespective of values of the indices of weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy percentage, to remain at a level not below 3 is to be in operation till withdrawn by specific order of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA),” The decision has been taken considering emerging cases of Delta plus variant in the state, officials said.

There won’t be any changes for Mumbai as the city already comes under the level-3 category of restrictions, the officials said. All the districts and cities will get maximum relaxations that are provided under the level 3 plan. The state has found 21 cases of Delta plus variant covering six districts. Of them, nine cases are in Ratnagiri, seven in Jalgaon, two in Mumbai and one case each in Thane, Palghar and Sindhudurg. Local trains can be used by essential and medical workers and women only. Parks and gardens can open from 5 am to 9 am every day. Weddings are allowed with maximum 50 people, cultural activities allowed at 50% capacity. Manufacturing of essential goods is allowed at 100% capacity, manufacturing units engaged in non-essential goods can work with 50% capacity and a dedicated transport facility for its employees.