Maha: Places of worship, liquor shops to see curbs

Mumbai/Jalna: The Maharashtra government will gradually bring curbs at places of worship and other sites, including liquor vends, that attract crowds to control the coronavirus pandemic, state health minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday, a day after the state decided to tighten restrictions in the face of surging COVID-19 cases.

Speaking to reporters in Jalna, the minister said that the restrictions imposed by the government a day earlier were in the interest of the people.

"Curbs in crowded areas like liquor shops and places of worship will be imposed as well," he said.

Tope, however, said that even as cases are rising, hospital bed occupancy and oxygen demand remain low.

"When these start rising, we will enforce stricter restrictions," he added.

On Saturday, when the state reported over 41,000 new COVID-19 cases, the state government decided to prohibit movement in public in groups of five or more from 5 in the morning to 11 at night. Further, no movement will be allowed in public from 11 pm to 5 am except for essential services, a government circular had said.

On Sunday, the state government revised the COVID-19-related restrictions for gyms and beauty salons, allowing them to operate at 50 per cent capacity from January 10 midnight. The revised order grouped beauty salons with hair cutting salons.

On Saturday, the government had said gyms and beauty salons will remain closed, while hair cutting salons will function at 50 per cent capacity.

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

Only fully vaccinated people shall be allowed to use these services and all staff engaged in operation shall be fully vaccinated, it said.

Gyms will be allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity subject to the use of masks while performing any activity, the order said.

The state government had on Saturday announced that schools and colleges will be closed till February 15 except for activities required to be undertaken for class 10 and 12 students and administrative activities of teachers.

The government had also decided to cap the attendance at marriages and social, religious, cultural or political gatherings at 50.

At funerals, not more than 20 people can remain present, said the circular.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Sunday reported 44,388 new COVID-19 cases and 12 fatalities, taking the tally of infections to 69,20,044 and the death toll to 1,41,639, the state health department said.

A day earlier, the state had reported 41,434 coronavirus cases and 13 deaths.

With 15,351 patients discharged on Sunday, the number of recoveries rose to 65,72,432 in Maharashtra, which is now left with 2,02,259 active cases, the department said in a statement.