WEB DESK
The count of Covid -19 patients in Maharashtra showed consistent rise with the tally crossing the four lakh mark yesterday. Till date Mumbai was leading the tally however, since last few weeks the COVID scenario in the Metropolitan city has shown improvement.
The city has been observing fewer deaths and more recoveries. Also, the city’s Covid-19 case growth rate has considerably declined while the case doubling rate has gone up. However, the situation in other cities and big towns like Pune, Sangli, Nasik, Kolhapur is still grim. Hence, as an emergency step to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 across the state, the government has decided to extend lockdown restrictions till August 31.
Under the new guidelines announced by the state, malls and market complexes will be allowed to function from 9 am to 7 pm from August 5. However, theatres, food courts, restaurants, indoor gyms and swimming pools will remain closed. Further, the night curfew will remain in place across Maharashtra despite the Centre doing away with it.
Besides, large public gatherings and congregations will continue to remain prohibited. The state has allowed permission for outdoor non-team sports like golf courses, outdoor firing range, outdoor gymnastics, tennis and outdoor badminton with physical distancing and sanitation measures from August 5. Besides large public gatherings and congregations will continue to remain prohibited.
On overall guidelines, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, at the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday told ministers he preferred a gradual and calibrated process of reopening. Meanwhile CM Thackery has reached Pune to take overall stock of the Covid -19 situation in the district.Currently CM’s meeting is underway at Pune’s divisional commissioner office.