COVID Curbs To Be Imposed At Places Of Worship, Liquor Shops: Maharashtra Health Minister

“However, even as cases are rising, hospital bed occupancy and oxygen demand are low. When these start rising, we will enforce stricter restrictions,” he added.

Representative Photo: PTI

Jalna: In a bid to contain the Covid-19 spread, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Sunday said restrictions will be gradually brought at places of worship and other sites, including liquor vends, that attract crowds.

“Curbs in crowded areas like liquor shops and places of worship will be imposed as well,” Tope told reporters here, PTI reported.

“However, even as cases are rising, hospital bed occupancy and oxygen demand are low. When these start rising, we will enforce stricter restrictions,” he added.

The Maharashtra Health Minister said the restrictions imposed by the state government earlier on Saturday were in the interest of people.

Earlier in the day, the state government revised the Covid related restrictions for gyms and beauty salons, allowing them to operate at 50 percent capacity from January 10 midnight.

The government had earlier on Saturday said gyms and beauty salons will remain closed, while hair cutting salons will function at 50 percent capacity.

The move came as Maharashtra reported over 41,000 new Covid-19 cases

The order was, however, revised on Sunday and the beauty salons were grouped with the hair cutting salons.

As per the revised order, only those activities that do not require removal of mask by anyone shall be allowed.

The order added that only fully vaccinated people shall be allowed to use these services and all staff engaged in operation shall be fully vaccinated.

Gyms, according to the order, will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity subject to use of mask while performing any activity.

The Maharashtra government earlier on Saturday prohibited movement in public in groups of five or more from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. effective January 10 midnight.

Further, no movement will be allowed in public from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. except for essential services, the government circular had said, PTI reported.

In tune with the same, the schools and colleges will be closed till February 15 except for activities required to be undertaken for the students of Class 10 and 12 and the teachers’ administrative activities.

The circular also said that government offices should opt for work from home and working hours should be staggered if work from office is required.

No visitors will be allowed at the government offices except with written permission of office heads and online interaction facility will be provided for people through video conference.

The private offices across the state have also been asked to rationalise the number of employees coming to work by allowing work from home and staggering the working hours.

The attendance at marriages and social, religious, cultural or political gatherings will be capped at 50, as per the circular, while not more than 20 people can remain present at funerals.