Maha fresh norms expected today?

The state government is expected to issue its revised lockdown guidelines on Sunday. An official said the government is going to provide further relaxations in a “gradual and calibrated manner”, but coronavirus cases are bound to go up as this happens. The official added that the state government is moving “cautiously” and relaxations would be given on the degree of “contact” and “essential” nature of the service.

Covid-19 hotspot areas such as Mumbai, MMR and Pune are likely to remain under lockdown even as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday issued guidelines for the phased reopening of activities outside containment zones. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has already indicated that he is not keen to lift curbs in Mumbai, Pune and MMR.

The MHA, in its guidelines, has allowed opening up of religious places/places of worship, hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality services, and shopping malls from June 8. The state government has not decided yet, but is unlikely to allow the opening of malls, among others.

“We are moving with caution. It is known that cases do surge when relaxations are lifted. We have been preparing for it. Besides that, providing relaxations in curbs would depend on the degree of contact among people, how essential is the service that is being allowed. Mode of transport is also a criteria being looked at, while allowing anything,” said a senior official requesting anonymity. Officials said that there could be some relaxations given in Mumbai, MMR and Pune to restart economic activities, including opening of standalone shops.