Let’s break the chain: Maharashtra imposes two-week lockdown from 8 pm today till 7 am on May 1

The state government has imposed a lockdown from 8 pm on April 14 till 7 am on May 1 in view of an unprecedented COVID19 caseload and crumbling healthcare apparatus that may not suffice if the current growth in active cases continues As he announced the restrictions on Tuesday night Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray sought public cooperation in following the curbs that arenrsquot as harsh as the previous national lockdownPeople crowd the flower market outside Dadar station PicAshish RajePublic transport including suburban and longdistance trains buses and taxis will run but the latest measures will ensure that only those working in essential services use them Section 144 against assembly of 5 and more and a night curfew will be in place People will not be allowed to move in public places without valid reasons All establishments public places activities services except those mentioned in the essential category shall remain closedMost of the curbs are similar to the ones imposed for weekend lockdown a week ago Restaurants bars hotels roadside eateries have been allowed only parcel and home delivery service Considering economic needs industrial units and factories will be allowed to operate under COVID protocols Construction contracted by the government will not stop real estate activity will continue provided the workers are given onsite accommodationldquoWe have spent a lot of time in discussion This is the right time to act and enforce restrictions Call it lockdown or whateverrdquo said Thackeray trying to convince the audience According to him the state registered a record new 60212 active patients on Tuesday The available 350 lakh beds including all types will be inadequate to serve the ailing people if the curbs were not imposed he said The state has been consuming the entire 1200 metric tonnes of oxygen produced locally for medicinal purposes of which about 1000 MT needed daily for COVID care he addedSale of vegetables will be allowed across the state says governmentThe oxygen shortage is supposed to be reduced by getting oxygen from other states But Thackeray said the Centre has allowed Maharashtra to transport oxygen from northeastern states The CM said he will ask PM Narendra Modi to allow oxygen transport by air and tell the Indian Air Force to arrange transportation ldquoWe canrsquot afford to run thousands of kilometers by road to transport oxygen The daily need is huge and urgentrdquo he saidUddhav urged Modi to declare the pandemic a natural calamity to facilitate the Centrersquos individual assistance to the affected peopleRelief for the needyThackeray announced a state relief package of Rs 5400 crore for the needy whose earnings will get affected The state will give beneficiaries for free of cost 3 kg wheat and 2 kg rice for a month Shiv Bhojan Thali meal programme will distribute free meals for one month The 35 lakh beneficiaries of five social welfare schemes will be given an advance of Rs 1000 eachRegistered construction workers hawkers rickshaw drivers and tribal community members will be given a financial help of Rs 15002000What will remain open what wonrsquotOffices to work at half capacity onlyThe establishments include offices of central and state and local governments including their statutory authorities and organisations cooperative PSU and private banks offices of companies providing essential services health insurance firms many pharma company offices RBIregulated entities and intermediaries including standalone primary dealers CCIL NPCI payment system operators and financial market participants operating in RBI regulated markets nonbanking financial corporations micro finance institutions Advocates if operations of courts tribunals or commissions of enquiries are onStaggering plan for essential shopsLocal authorities can plan out staggering groceries vegetables shops fruit vendors dairies bakeries confectionaries after considering their locations where people may assemble in large numbers Open public spaces may also be identified for shifting their operations temporarily Local authorities may declare some locations as closed for these operations if they spread to COVID19 Shop owners should install transparent glass or other material shields during interaction with customers and focus more on electronic paymentRestaurants bars and hotels closedAll restaurants and bars to remain closed for indining except for those forming an integral part of hotels Home deliveries will be allowed but not takeaways Restaurants and bars inside hotels will allow only inhouse guestsRoadside eatable vendors can homedeliverNo serving at the location Parcels or home deliveries allowed between 7 am and 8 pm Waiting customers must maintain adequate social distancingEase of travelPeople arriving departing by train bus flight may travel to the airport bus station train station or back home on the basis of a valid ticketServices to remain opengtgtHospitals and allied industries including those in manufacture and distribution of vaccines sanitizers masks medical equipment their ancillaries raw material units and supporting servicesgtgtVeterinary servicesAnimal care shelters and pet food shopsgtgtGroceries vegetables shops fruit vendors dairies bakeries confectionaries and food shopsgtgtCold storage and warehousing servicesgtgtAirplanes trains taxis autos and public busesgtgtServices related to functioning of offices of diplomats of various countriesgtgtPre monsoon activities by local authoritiesgtgtAll public services by local authoritiesgtgtRBI and services designated by RBI as essentialgtgtAll offices of SEBIrecognized market infrastructure institutions such as stock exchangesgtgtServices required for restoration maintenance of telecom servicesgtgtTransport of GoodsgtgtWater Supply ServicesgtgtAgriculture related activities and all allied activitiesgtgtExportndashImport of all commoditiesgtgtEcommerce only essential goods and servicesgtgtAccredited MediagtgtNewspapers magazines periodicals can be printed and circulated Only home delivery is allowedgtgtPetrol pumps petroleumrelated products including offshore onshoregtgtAll cargo servicesData centres cloud services IT services supporting critical infrastructure andgtgtSecurity servicesgtgtElectric and gas supply servicesgtgtATMsgtgtPostal servicesTo remain closedgtgtCinema halls drama theatres and auditoriums amusement parksarcades video game parlours water parks clubs swimming pools gyms and sports complexes film and ad shootsgtgtAll shops malls shopping centres not in essential servicesgtgtPublic places like beaches gardens and open spaces Local authority may decide their usegtgtReligious places of worship personnel working for places of worship allowed to continue their duties but no devoteesgtgtBarber shops spa salon beauty parloursgtgtReligious social political cultural functionsWhat is on and offAllowedgtgt Groceries fruit and veggies shops dairies food shopsgtgt Flights trains taxis autos and public busesgtgt E commerce only for essential goods and servicesgtgt Petrol pumpsNot allowedgtgt Cinema halls swimming pools gymsgtgt Malls shopping centers not dealing in essential servicesgtgt Beaches gardensgtgt Places of worship