While the state government has emphasised yet again on the need to get fully vaccinated in view of the emerging Omicron threat, public spaces across the city seem to be curiously reluctant to follow rules. A test drive by mid-day has revealed that malls, shopping centres, public transport and public places are flouting the norm of allowing only fully vaccinated visitors and passengers. At some places, those who have taken just one dose of the vaccine are being allowed to enter, while some do not have any checking process in place. At some other places, security guards told mid-day that they don’t know how to check certificates because no training has been provided for it.

However, few of the public places were seen adhering to the rule. Universal pass of visitors was being checked at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (museum) but BMC-run Veer Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, Byculla (Rani Baug) didn’t have any arrangements to check vaccination status of visitors in place. Recently, BEST bus conductors were asked to check the universal pass of all passengers, but some of them told mid-day that it was practically impossible to do it for everyone.