Mumbai Local Banned For General Public; Shops To Be Closed At 4PM, But No RT-PCR For Vaccinated Travellers

Your heart might be longing to go out and have fun with friends or you might be busy planning for your next visit to your Dada Dadi, or you might be simply missing the hustling sound of the local train. All these things might have to wait for some time more, as the Government of Maharashtra has decided to stay away from the easing of the curbs. 

Local trains not open for the general public yet

Amid the fears of the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, the Maharashtra cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thakaray decided to continue with level 3 restrictions in the state without further easing.

The state cabinet has unanimously voiced the need of stepping up corona management measures and Covid appropriate behavior. So, the general public will have to wait to be able to commute through local trains. The shops will also be closed after 4 pm.

As per the level 3 curbs, the essential shops and establishments are allowed to remain open till 4 pm on all days, whereas non – essentials will be open till 4 pm on weekdays. Restaurants are allowed to remain open for dine-in at 50% capacity till 4 pm on weekdays, but after that, they are allowed to remain open only for home deliveries and takeaways. Gyms and salons are allowed to remain open with 50% capacity till 4 pm only. 

However, the government seems to have given a light hand to people traveling from other states (through air travel), by removing the mandatory RTPCR test for those who have taken two vaccine doses. 

The government focused on vaccinations and avoiding overcrowding at tourists places

“The government is focusing on inoculation of as many people as possible in the state…There is an inadequate supply of vaccine doses in Maharashtra and the state government is pursuing a higher supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses with the Centre. The state expects 4 crore doses by August,” said Public Health Minister of Maharashtra, Rajesh Tope. Tope also expressed his serious concerns over overcrowding at tourists places in Maharashtra. ‘’If the people continue to flock to tourist destinations and markets, the Home Ministry has instructed the states to impose strict restrictions once again to avoid virus spread,’’ he clarified.