Maharashtra Govt Relaxes Covid Curbs, Extends Timings Of Hotels, Restaurants Till 10 PM

The hotels and restaurants, which were earlier allowed to open only till 4 p.m., can now run till 10 p.m. with 50 percent capacity.

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Mumbai: With Maharashtra reporting a decline in coronavirus cases over the last few days, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government on Wednesday relaxed the Covid-19 curbs and permitted all hotels and restaurants in the state to run till 10 p.m. from August 15.

The hotels and restaurants, which were earlier allowed to open only till 4 p.m., can now run till 10 p.m. with 50 percent capacity.

The malls have also been given permission to remain open till 10 p.m. from August 15. Double dose certificate is, however, compulsory for those visiting malls.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the shopping malls can remain open till 10 p.m. in the state but the visitors need to be fully vaccinated.

“They need to show their vaccination certificates before entering,” he added.

READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Maha Govt Allows Hotels, Restaurants To Run Till 10 PM With 50% Capacity

Tope further said the state government will reimpose lockdown if the need for medical oxygen surpasses 700 metric tonnes.

The marriage halls, offices and shops will also get relaxation.

The new guidelines come as the restaurant owners, malls and other establishments were over the last few days demanding the government to extend the current timings.

Earlier on Monday, the Chief Minister discussed the possibility of granting more relaxations in restrictions while observing all precautions during a meeting of the Covid task force.

The state government had earlier announced that Mumbai local train services will resume from August 15 for those who have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.