Starting Tuesday, Maharashtra has relaxed restrictions in 22 out of the 36 districts reporting low case positivity numbers of Covid-19.

However, Level 3 restrictions will continue in Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Beed , Raigad and Palghar.

In Sidhudurgh, Satara and Ahmednagar considering higher numbers of  positive cases and higher numbers of  fresh cases, concerned disaster management authorities will impose effective restrictions.

Similarly in Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban and Thane districts decisions regarding reducing currently imposed restrictions will be taken by respective disaster management authorities.
 
All essential and non-essential shops including shopping malls will remain open all weekdays till 8 pm and till 3 pm on Saturday. All shops and malls except essential shops remain closed on Sundays.

All public gardens and playgrounds can be kept open for the purpose of exercise, walking, jogging and cycling.

All government and private offices can be operational with full capacity.

Work hours will be staggered to avoid crowds while traveling. The offices that can function through working from home should continue to do so.

All agricultural activity, civil works, industrial activity, transport of goods can remain functional at full capacity.

Gymnasiums, yoga centres, hair cutting salons, beauty parlours and spas can remain open without the use of air-conditioners and with 50 percent capacity till 8 am on weekdays and till 3 pm on Saturdays. These services will remain closed on Sundays.

All cinema theatres, drama theatres and multiplex (independent and inside malls) to remain closed till further orders. All places of worship in the state to remain closed till further orders.

Orders of state education department and higher and technical department will be applicable for schools and colleges.

All restaurants will remain open with 50% capacity till 4 pm on weekdays subject to adherence to all Covid-19 protocols. Parcels and takeaways will be allowed as is currently allowed.

Restrictions on movements will be applicable from 9 pm to 5 am.

In order to avoid crowding restrictions imposed on birthday celebration, political, social and cultural events, elections, elections campaigning, rallies, protest marches will continue.

All Covid-19 protocol – use of face masks, social distancing etc. – will have to be scrupulously followed across the state by all citizens. Failure in stringent adherence to the same will result in action on the defaulters under relevant sections of Disaster Management Act 2005, Epidemic Act and Section 1860 of Indian Penal Code.

Five levels of restrictions for different classes/categories of activities are categorized based on two parameters: Case positivity rate and percentage of oxygen beds occupancy. Every disaster management authority shall enforce these levels of restrictions over administrative units falling under its jurisdiction with the criteria as under:

In Level 1 Positivity< 5% and Oxygen bed occupancy is <25%. Regular CAB is to be followed with control over super speeders like travel by local train and marriages etc.

Level 2 is classified as where Positivity is <5% and oxygen beds occupancy is between 25% and 40%. Attendance in closed spaces  and public spaces and group movements is to be kept minimal

In level 3, Positivity is 5% and 10% and oxygen beds occupancy is more than 40% with minimal movement post 5 pm on weekdays and on weekends.

Under level 4, Positivity rate is between 10% and 20% OR Oxygen beds occupancy is more than 60%. No post 5 pm movement on weekdays and no movement on weekends without urgent / emergency reasons is allowed.

Under level 5, Positivity is more than 20% OR Oxygen beds occupancy is  more than 75%. No movement is allowed without urgent/ emergency reasons.

Earlier in the day, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had said in Sangli that the pandemic situation in the 11 districts was not so encouraging and Covid-19 indicators were a cause of worry. In areas where relaxing the norms was not possible currently due to the caseload, Thackeray asked people to cooperate with the government. He further said that as per an estimate the amount of medical oxygen required in a possible third wave might be double of what was needed in the second wave, when Maharashtra had to procure it from other states. He appealed to the private sector to split office timings to reduce attendance in their premises at any one point of time as well as opt for work from home and office in turns.