State still unsure over extent of relief from Covid-19 curbs

MUMBAI: Days after the state government hinted at relaxations from the coronavirus-enforced curbs, starting today, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government’s back-andforth over a decision has led to confusion for citizens. The state did not issue a notification on the relaxations till the time of going to press. Although the state is firm on not opening up suburban trains for all any time soon, it has not been able to make up its mind on other relaxations amid reports of a rise in Covid-19 cases in Kerala and few other countries, said officials.

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope had on Thursday said the state government was positive about extending the operating times for shops and establishments beyond 4pm and allowing theatres and multiplexes to function at 50% capacity. He had said that relaxations will be given in 25 districts that have low positivity rate.

The minister had also said, after a meeting convened by Thackeray, that the decision about opening up of trains will be taken after discussions with railway officials.

“The draft of the notification has been cleared by the relief and rehabilitation on Thursday and is expected to be cleared by the CM, after it is cleared by the health department. The government has not been able to arrive at a final call amid reports of a rise in the cases in Kerala and possibility of the beginning of a third wave. The CM is not very keen on opening up too many activities at one go and is also wary about allowing restaurants to function for longer durations,” said an official from Mantralaya. The official, however, said that local trains would not be opened for the public at least for a few weeks until the daily caseload in Mumbai comes to 200-250. “Task force is completely against the opening up of trains as they feel that the second wave was the result of the opening up of local trains for general public,” he said.

A health worker vaccinates a woman against Covid-19, in Byculla on Saturday.