The Maharashtra government has announced a weekend lockdown in the state from 8pm on Friday to 7am on Monday. It has been decided to control the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the state. Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will be enforced in the state from 8 pm on Monday night. Minority Affairs Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik gave this information after the cabinet meeting.
He said that the night curfew would continue and during the week, orders of ban under section 144 would be issued during day time.
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He informed that apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will apply from 8 pm tomorrow, under which shopping malls, bars, restaurants, small shops will be open only for take-away and parcels. Government offices will be allowed to operate at only 50 per cent of their capacity. He further said that the industry and production sector will work with the Vegetable Markets Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and the construction sites will work in that situation if there is a facility of accommodation for the personnel.
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Theaters, drama theaters will remain closed, while film and television shoots will continue, if there is no crowd. He informed that parks and playgrounds will also be closed. Malik said that religious places have to follow the SoPs. Apart from this, the public transport system will continue to work.
Mumbai city guardian minister Aslam Sheikh said that work from home for offices would be encouraged. It does not include only insurance, mediclaim, electricity and civic offices. He said that essential services have been exempted from the existing night curfew.
(Input: PTI)