Making the announcement, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government stated that accommodation service providers can resume operation from July 8, but with 33 per cent of their capacity and restricted entry.
The government also clarified that all these hotels, lodges, guesthouses etc will have to follow protocols including contactless payment like QR code, more use of e-wallets for both check-ins and check-outs.
The permission has been granted on conditions of these entities adhering to social distancing norms and other protocols to avoid spread of the infection. The announcement by the state government was made a day after Thackeray interacted with various associations of hotels and lodges, and assured them of taking a decision soon on reopening after finalising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The hotels in shopping malls, however, will not be allowed to reopen and on-going lockdown in the state will be in force till July 31. The government said that these entities, if they are being used as quarantine facilities, will continue to function as such unless the local district/municipal administrations decide otherwise.
Similarly, some part/whole of the balance unused capacity (67 per cent) can also be used for quarantine facility by district/municipal administration, the government said. While allowing the hotels to reopen partially, the government has asked hoteliers to ensure only asymptomatic guests are allowed.
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The guests should be allowed only if they are using face cover/mask, which has to be worn all the time inside the hotels, the government instructed. Guests are to compulsorily use the Aarogya Setu app and are encouraged to minimise use of housekeeping services.
The government has asked the hoteliers to display prominently posters/standees/AV media on preventive measures and guidelines about Coronavirus. The hoteliers have been asked to ensure proper crowd management in the hotels and parking lots, mandatory thermal screening at entrance and reception tables, which should have protective glasses.
All hoteliers have been asked to make available for free hand sanitisers, preferable pedal-operated dispensers, at the reception, guest rooms and public spaces for customers.
The temperature setting of all air-conditioning devices should be in the range of 24 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius, while the relative humidity should be in the range of 40 per cent to 70 per cent in line with the CPWDs guidelines, the notification said.
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Seating arrangements in the hotels must ensure observation of social distancing norms, while gaming arcades, children's play areas, swimming pools or gymnasium shall remain closed, it said.
The government has instructed to sanitise rooms and other services areas each time a guest vacates. The room should be left unoccupied for at least 24 hours after a clients stay is over, it added.
In case of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case in the premises of hotels, the ill person should be kept in a room or area in isolation from others and the state/district authorities should be immediately informed about it.
Lastly, the government has also instructed to carry out disinfection of the hotel premises if a person is found to be coronavirus positive.