Covid-19: Maharashtra prepares to unlock based on positivity rate, what to know

Following a goofup over announcing the lifting of lockdown in 18 districts on Thursday the state government came out with an official declaration on Friday midnight Based on the test positivity rate TPR and occupancy of oxygenated beds the fivelevel unlocking will begin from Monday onwardsPlaces across Maharashtra have been classified into five categories Cities and districts with less than 5 per cent positivity and less than 25 per cent occupancy of oxygenated beds will come under Level 1 and have the least restrictions The ldquoLevel 5rdquo places will have near lockdownlike curbsCurrently 10 out of 36 districts have been classified under Level 1 and will have malls theatres all shops restaurants and other economic and recreational activities including gyms and salons resume normal operationsThe midnight announcement through a notification signed by Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte pulled curtains on a drama that unfolded on Thursday after minister incharge of relief and rehabilitation Vijay Wadettiwar held a press conference to share unlocking details with the media He announced that half of Maharashtra 18 districts would have no curbs Immediately after his declaration an upset CM Uddhav Thackeray intervened and asked the publicity department to issue a statement saying that no such decision was taken and whenever taken it would be announced officially Wadettiwar later clarified that he forgot to mention that the fivelevel unlock plan was given inprinciple approval and the final decision would be announced by the CM1 Cities and districts with less than 5 per cent TPR and less than 25 per cent occupancy of oxygenated bedsDistricts Ahmednagar Chandrapur Dhule Gondia Jalgaon Jalna Latur Nagpur Nanded and YavatmalAllowed Shops and malls as per prelockdown timings Restaurants local trains parks private and government offices sports activities shooting marriages funerals society meetings elections construction agriculture ecommerce gyms salons spas buses cargo movement interdistrict transport except if passing through containment zones and manufacturingAlso ReadNew Maharashtra unlock rules Whatrsquos allowed whatrsquos not2 With less than 5 per cent positivity and oxygenated bed occupancy between 25 and 40 per centDistricts Hingoli and NandurbarAllowed Attendance in closed places and group movements with restrictions Regular timings for essential and nonessential shops parks private and government offices can operate like prelockdown times Malls theatres singlescreens and restaurants to operate at 50 per cent dining capacity Trains for specified categories Indoor games from 5 am to 9 pm outdoor games for the entire day Film shootings at regular timings with 50 per cent cap on gatherings No cap on funerals Society meetings and elections allowed at 50 per cent capacity Regular timing for construction agriculture ecommerce Gyms salons at 50 per cent capacity with prior appointments Seamless cargo movement No standing passengers in city buses Interdistrict travel manufacturing in full scale3 With TPR between 5 and 10 per cent and oxygenated bed occupancy more than 40 per centDistricts Mumbai city and suburbs Thane Akola Amravati Aurangabad Beed Bhandara Gadchiroli Nashik Osmanabad Palghar Parbhani Solapur Wardha and WashimRestrictions No movement post 5 pm shops 7 am to 4 pm malls theatres and singlescreens will remain closed Restaurants at 50 per cent capacity till 4 pm and thereafter for deliveries Local trains only for essential services staff Public places and parks open from 5 am to 9 pm Private offices open on all days till 4 pm Government office attendance at 50 per cent Social gatherings at 50 per cent attendance marriages up to 50 persons funerals a maximum of 20 people4 With TPR 10 and 20 per cent and oxygenated bed occupancy more than 60 per centDistricts Buldhana Kolhapur Pune Raigad Ratnagiri Sangli Satara and SindhudurgRestrictions No movement post 5 pm all days including weekends Essential shops open till 4 pm nonessentials closed Malls theatres singlescreens and auditoriums not allowed Only takeaways at restaurants Local trains only for the essential services category Public places and parks operation window is between 5 am and 9 pm No public movement on weekends Social gatherings not allowed marriage attendance only 25 people and 20 people for funerals Ecommerce deliveries of essentials allowed5 TPR more than 20 per cent and having oxygenated bed occupancy of more than 75 per centRestrictions Only essential shops barring pharmacies till 4 pm Nonessential shops theatres and malls shut Restaurants only for deliveries Trains open only for medical personnel Public parks shut private offices only for the exempted categories and government offices at 15 per cent attendance