Mumbai: The Bombay Municipal Corporation on Friday announced that visitors will have to show their coronavirus negative report before entering the malls.
According to reports – the new rules will come into effect from March 22. The Health Department of the State on March 18 recorded 2,877 fresh cases in Mumbai only and around 17 thousand cases registered in Maharashtra.
The Mumbai district now has the third-highest number of active infections in the country. The new rule for mall entry leaves a hint that the civic authorities will opt for similar such restrictions to check to the crowd, instead of going for night curfew or lockdown.
The BMC in its official statement said that “Mumbai currently has 34 active containment zones and 267 buildings sealed. The authorities have also revealed that the maximum of the new infections reported in the last two months has been from apartments. Between March 17 and 18, the BMC authorities traced 14,979 high-risk contacts.”
The State government of Thursday said that “As about 95 percent of the new cases in Maharashtra are asymptomatic, testing and tracking are most important to contain the spread of the infection.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a virtual meeting with divisional commissioners and asked them to ensure that restrictions are not being violated.
According to new rules in Maharashtra to curb the spread of coronavirus – gathering for a religious purpose, cultural purpose and political purpose will not be allowed. Cinemas and hotels will operate with 50 percent capacity. Only 50 persons will be allowed marriage and 20 at funerals.
All offices except health and essential – will be operated with 50% staff. Residential buildings with more than five active Covid-19 patients will be sealed. Travelers coming from Brazil will have to follow the seven days institutional quarantine and Citizens flouting these rules will be fined, prosecuted.
_Vinayak