Maharashtra govt issues stricter curbs; Check the list of things allowed

Amid a sharp surge in coronavirus cases, the Maharashtra government has decided to announce stricter restrictions in the Covid-hit state starting today, April 22, despite imposing partial curbs.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray didn't announce the new restrictions himself, unlike last time. The government notification also did not use the world 'lockdown'.

The new restrictions under the government's 'Break the Chain' programme will remain effective till 7 am on May 1, the notification read.

Here’s the list of new SOPs released:

• Attendance in government offices reduces to 15%, except for departments engaged in emergency services. Also, all private offices that were allowed to function as part of the exempted category have been asked to reduce attendance from 50% to 15%.
• The marriage ceremony may be conducted only as a single event in a single hall not extending beyond 2 hours with a maximum of a total of 25 persons attending the same. Any family seen to be flaunting the restraints or not following these in letter and spirit may be fined INR 50,000
• Private Passenger transport excluding buses can ply only for emergency or essential services or valid reasons with driver plus 50% of the seating capacity. These are not expected to be inter-district or inter-city and should be confined to the city of residence of the travellers. Inter-district or inter-city travel is allowed only if required for performing an essential service or in case of medical emergencies or attending unavoidable events like funerals or severe sickness of family. Anyone flouting the order in letter or spirit shall be punishable by a fine of ₹10000/-.
• Private buses can ply with 50% of seating capacity with no standing travellers.
• All Government personnel (State/ Central/ Local), Tickets/ passes to be issued to the above category of personnel on the basis of a Government-issued identity card only.
• For all Medical Personnel (Doctors/ paramedics/ lab technicians/ hospital and medical clinic staff etc) tickets/ passes to be issued on the basis of an identity card issued by the concerned medical organization.
• Any persons needing medical treatment or specially-abled persons to one person need to accompany the needy.

For long-distance travel in Public and Private Passenger Transport:

Inter-city or inter-district travel by private buses, trains and long-distance public buses shall be subject to the following controls:

i. Bus service operator must restrict the stoppages to a maximum of two in a city and shall inform local DMA about the same and the schedule. Local DMA may ask to change these if so desired.

ii. At the stoppages where passengers are alighting all passengers shall be stamped on the hand for 14 days home quarantine. This stamping must be done by the operator.

iii. Thermal scanners shall be used and anyone with symptoms shall be moved to corona care centres or to a hospital.

iv. Local DMA may decide to do the RAT test at the alighting point by appointing one of the authorised labs to give these services. The cost of the test, if so decided shall be borne by the passenger/ service provider.

v. If an operator is found to be flouting these guidelines, then DMA may levy a fine of INR 10000/-. Repeated defaults will lead to the cancellation of the license to operate till the end of notification of COVID-19 as a pandemic.

vi. The local Disaster Management Authority can waive off the rules regarding mandatory stamping for buses arriving from certain origins as per the local conditions.