Maharashtra to begin five-level unlock process on Monday: Check where restrictions will be lifted
2 min read 05 Jun 2021, 07:55 AM ISTChief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office has informed that relaxations will be implemented based on the positivity rate and occupancy of oxygenated beds in districts and cities
PremiumThe Maharashtra government has announced a detailed five-level plan to initiate the unlock process in the state as the Covid-19 situation improves.
In a late-night announcement, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office has informed that relaxations will be implemented based on the positivity rate and occupancy of oxygenated beds in districts and cities.
Under the plan, districts and cities falling in “Level 1" will have the least restrictions, while those in “Level 5" will have stringent near lockdown-like restrictions in place.
The government has defined "Level 1" areas as having a positivity rate of less than 5% and occupancy of oxygenated beds should be below 25%. "Level 2" will include areas with a positivity rate below 5% and oxygenated bed occupancy between 25% and 40%.
For "Level 3", the areas will be required to have a positivity rate between 5% and 10% or oxygenated bed occupancy of more than 40%.
Further in "Level 4", the positivity rate should be between 10% and 20% or oxygen bed occupancy of more than 60%. To be categories in "Level 5", the strictest level, areas will be required to have a positivity rate of more than 20% or occupancy of oxygen beds should be more than 75%.
According to the public health department, the Level 1 districts currently are Aurangabad, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Dhule, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Jalgaon, Jalna, Latur, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Parbhani, Thane, Washim, Wardha and Yavatmal.
Level 2 will have Ahmednagar, Amravati, Hingoli, Mumbai and Dhule. In Level 3, Akola, Beed, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur, Osmanabad, Sangli, Satara, Sindhudurg and Solapur districts are included.
Cities like Mumbai and its satellite towns, along with Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Aurangabad, Solapur and Nagpur will be treated as administrative units.
The 34 districts apart from Mumbai will be treated as administrative units.
Economic activities allowed in various levels
Establishments dealing with essential services: All the shops and establishments will be allowed to function as usual in Level 1 and 2 while they will have to shutter down after 4 pm in Level 3 and 4 areas on all days.
In Level 5, the establishments will stay open till 4 pm on weekdays and stay shut on weekends.
Non-essential items: The establishments will function as usual in Level 1 and 2, and stay shut after 4 pm in Level 3. They will not be allowed to open at all in Level 5.
Malls, theatres and multiplexes: These establishments can resume normal operations in Level 1 while they will have to function with 50% capacity in Level 2. They will stay closed in Level 3, 4 and 5.
Restaurants: In Level 1, restaurants can function as usual, while in Level 2, they will have to run with only 50% capacity.
For Level 3, they can have a 50% capacity till 4 pm and will only be allowed takeaway and parcel services after that and on weekends. People in Level 4 areas will not be allowed to dine in but only parcel and takeaway services. In Level 5, only home delivery is allowed. People cannot visit restaurants.
Marriage functions: There are no restrictions on functions in Level 1 areas. In Level 2, a marriage ceremony can take place with 50% of hall capacity and a maximum of 100 people. The number has been restricted to 50 in Level 3 and 25 in Level 4. Only family members are allowed to be present for functions in Level 5 areas.
