Mumbai: With coronavirus cases declining in Maharashtra over the past few days, the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government on Wednesday eased Covid-19 restrictions and allowed all hotels and restaurants in the state to operate from August 15 till 10 pm. .
Hotels and restaurants, which were earlier allowed to open only till 4 pm, can now operate till 10 pm with 50 percent capacity.
Malls have also been allowed to remain open from August 15 till 10 pm. However, a double dose certificate is mandatory for those visiting the mall.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said shopping malls in the state can remain open till 10 pm, but visitors need to be fully vaccinated.
“They have to show their vaccination certificate before entering,” he said.
Reading: Coronavirus LIVE: Maha govt allows hotels, restaurants to run with 50% capacity till 10 pm
Tope further said that if the medical oxygen requirement exceeds 700 metric tonnes, the state government will re-impose the lockdown.
Marriage halls, offices and shops will also get exemption.
The new guidelines come as restaurant owners, malls and other establishments have been demanding from the government for the past few days to extend the existing timings.
Earlier on Monday, during the meeting of the Kovid Task Force, the Chief Minister discussed the possibility of further relaxing the restrictions, following all the precautions.
The state government had earlier announced that Mumbai local train services would resume from August 15 for those who have received both the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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