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Maharashtra Announces Night Curfew, Weekend Lockdown


Maharashtra Announces Night Curfew, Weekend Lockdown
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On Sunday, the Maharashtra government announced new stricter restrictions for the state. These new rules come in to effect from Monday, April 5. These new restrictions include a night curfew in the state and a "strict lockdown" over the weekends from Friday 8 pm to Monday 7 am amid the current surge in coronavirus cases.

The decision was taken at an emergency Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after he held detailed discussions with all stakeholders over this weekend.

The night curfew and weekdays restrictions start from April 5 (Monday) and the weekend curfew would commence on Fridays at 8 p.m. and end at 7 a.m. on Mondays till April 30. During this time, the public transport in Mumbai including local trains would continue to run as usual. Starting Monday, autorickshaws and cabs can take only 2 passengers, and no one standing will be permitted in public or private buses.

It has been instructed that all private offices should remain closed and people be encouraged to Work From Home (WFH).

People working in banks, stock markets, insurance, pharmaceuticals, telecom, water, electricity and disaster management departments have been given an exception. However, the government is looking at measures that can help in controlling the crowd. Even in vegetable markets, new rules will be introduced to ensure that people don't gather in big numbers. 

All government offices too will work with only 50 per cent attendance and all the meetings will be conducted online. For now, Film shoots are allowed to continue but they will have to do so without crowds.

In addition to this, Section 144 clamped during the day - will come into effect from April 5.

CM Thackeray had addressed the state on Friday and in the same he had mentioned that he will be announcing stricter measures soon. While he told that there are measures being taken by the government to control the cases, the increasing number of cases require that people continue to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour. He had also mentioned that while there are rumours that a lockdown will be implemented but he is not in the favour of the same. 

He had also appealed to people to always wear a mask. Thackeray in this address had mentioned that he will be meeting with all concerned stakeholders and announce the decision in the coming 2-3 days. True to his word, on Sunday he announced these new rules that will come into effect on Monday.

Over the last two days, Thackeray held wide-ranging consultations with a cross-section of society to get their views before toughening the norms.

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