Weekend lockdown: Maharashtra shuts eateries, malls, curbs travel amid Covid surge

The rapid spread of Covid-19 finally forced the Uddhav Thackeray government to announce lockdown-like restrictions across the state from 8pm on Monday. On weekends, a complete lockdown will be imposed. A state government notification issued late on Sunday said all shops except essential services would remain shut till the end of the month, leaving people only Monday to buy non-essential goods this month. Restaurants will be allowed to operate only takeaway and home delivery services during the day hours. While night curfew will be imposed every day from 8pm to 7am, gatherings of five or more persons will be prohibited during the daytime — 7am to 8pm — on weekdays. No religious, social, cultural or political functions of any kind will be allowed. The state decided it would conduct board exams, but all schools, colleges and private tuition classes would remain closed. As fresh lockdown looms, many migrants head home from Maharashtra. Vaccinations will continue all days of the week, including weekends. The notification gave an exemption from the restrictions to essential services like hospitals, diagnostic centres, pharmacies and other health services, grocery, vegetable and food stores, trains, public buses, taxis and autorickshaws, all public services by local authorities, goods transportation and agriculture-related services, e-commerce and accredited media. Banking, insurance, telecommunication and mediclaim offices will also be exempted. Private vehicles, including private buses can ply as usual from 7am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, and in emergencies or on essential service duty from 8pm to 7am on weekdays and 8pm on Friday to 7am on Monday.