Mumbai at level three in Maharashtra’s 5-tier unlock plan – Economic Times

A five-level “unlock” plan will come into effect in Maharashtra on Monday, based on the Covid-19 positivity rate and occupancy of beds in each district and city, to ease the lockdown-like curbs currently enforced in the state to contain the pandemic.

According to a notification issued by the state government late Friday night, the Disaster Management Authority shall enforce these levels of restrictions over administrative units falling under its jurisdiction. The districts and cities falling under ‘level 1’ will have the least restrictions and those under ‘level 5’ will have most curbs.

Level 1 covers areas with less than 5% positivity rate and less than 25% oxygen bed occupancy. Level 2 areas are those with less than 5% positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy of 25-40%. Districts and cities with more than 20% positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy of more than 75% will fall under level 5.

According to the guidelines, “local administration of districts and cities falling under ‘level 1’ will have to ensure control over super spreaders like travel by local trains, marriages etc, while those under ‘level 2’ will have to minimise attendance in closed and public spaces and group movements”. In areas falling in ‘level 5’ of the fresh restriction plan, no movement will be allowed unless owing to medical emergencies.

Mumbai falls under level 3.

In level 1 and level 2 areas, shops and establishments dealing with essentials and non-essential items can now operate according to their regular timings. While shops under essential services will operate under certain restrictions in level 3 and level 5 areas, those dealing with non-essential items will be allowed to operate till 4 pm on weekdays in level 3 areas, and will be shut in level 4 and level 5, said the notification.

Malls and theatres can resume normal operations in level 1 areas whereas the same can operate with 50% capacity in level 2 areas. They will remain closed in level 3-5 areas.

Similarly, local trains, restaurants, private offices, recreational activities, shooting and full attendance at government offices will be allowed in level 1 areas. In level 2 areas, dining at restaurants will be allowed only with 50% capacity, local trains will be allowed only in cases of medical emergency and essential activities and exemptions put in place by local authorities. Offices, both private and government, will be open in level 2 districts and cities, sport activities will be restricted between 5 am and 9 am and 5 pm and 9 pm indoors, but outdoor games will be allowed. While shootings are allowed in level 2 areas, social gatherings and marriages will be restricted to 50% capacity. Meetings of local and cooperative bodies are allowed in level 1 districts and cities while the same can be carried out with 50% capacity in level 2-4 areas, and will have to be held online in level 5 areas. Manufacturing and other industries can also resume in level 1-2 areas and will operate under certain restrictions in other areas. E-commerce-items are allowed in level 1-3 areas, and only essential items can be allowed through e-commerce in level 4-5 areas.