Maharashtra Government Issues New Guidelines For Night Curfew, Gatherings; Those Violating Home Isolation To Be Admitted In Covid Centre

Mubarak Ansari

Pune, 27 March 2021: As per the directions of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the Maharashtra state government has issued detailed guidelines for night curfew, number of people in ceremonies etc. There will be a restriction on the gathering of more than five people from 8 PM to 7 AM in the state.

1. Containment Zones:

i. The Containment Zones in the State as categorized vide any orders issued by the local authorities will remain in force till further orders. 

ii. The directions issued by the Central Government and State Government from time to time to demarcate the Containment Zones and operations therein will be in force till further orders. 

iii. Considering the local conditions, the concerned District Collector and the Commissioners of the Municipal Corporations in the State may enforce certain measurer and necessary restrictions in specified local areas on the permitted non-essential activities and the movement of persons to contain the spread of the epidemic only with the prior written approval of Chief Secretary, Maharashtra. 

iv. Within the containment zones, listing of contacts shall be carried out in respect of all persons found positive, along with their tracking, identification, quarantine and follow up of contacts for 14 days (80% of contacts to be traced in 72 hrs). 

2. Gatherings of more than 5 people will not be allowed from 8 PM to 7 AM effective from midnight on 27th March 2021. Violation of the same will attract a penalty of Rs 1000 per head on the offender.

3. All Public Places including gardens and beaches to remain closed from 8 PM to 7 AM effective from midnight on 27th March 2021. Violation of the same will attract a penalty of Rs 1000 per head on the offenders. 

4. Any person found to be without masks shall be fined an amount of Rs 500. Any person found to be spitting in public place will be fined an amount of Rs 1000. 

5. All Cinema Halls (Single Screens and Multiplexes), malls, auditoriums, and restaurants to remain closed from 8 PM to 7 AM from midnight on 27th of March 2021. Home delivery and take away from restaurants will however be allowed during the said time. 

In case of any violation of this order, the concerned cinema hall/ hotels/ restaurants shall have to remain closed for a period until the COVID 19 pandemic stays notified as a Disaster by the Central Government. Violation shall also attract penalties under the Disaster Management Act for the owner of premises. 

6. No Social/ Cultural/ Political/ Religious gatherings to be allowed. Auditoriums or drama theatres should also be not used for the purpose of conducting the said gatherings. Violation shall also attract penalties under the disaster act for the owner of premises. The property shall also have to remain closed until the COVID 19 pandemic stays notified as a Disaster by the Central Government. 

7. Not more than 50 people will be allowed to be present only for the purpose of weddings. Violation shall also attract penalties under the disaster act for the owner of premises. The property shall also have to remain closed till the period until the COVID 19 pandemic stays notified as a Disaster by the Central Government. 

8. Not more than 20 people will be allowed to be present for the purposes of performance of last rites. It will be the duty of the local authorities to ensure the same. 

9. Home isolation to be allowed with following restrictions: 

a. Information shall be given to the local authorities along with information of the qualified medical professional under whose supervision the isolation will be adhered to. It shall be the responsibility of the medical professional to ensure that all due precautions of home quarantine are being taken and shall be duty-bound to intimate immediately to the authorities about any violation and withdraw his or her consent to be a supervisor. 

b. A board is to be put up on the door or conspicuous location for 14 days since the beginning indicating the presence of a COVID 19 patient at the said location. 

c. Home Quarantine seal on hand to be affixed by the local authorities 

d. It is advised that members of the family also restrict their movements outside to the extent possible, and never without Mask. 

e. Any violation to isolation shall lead to immediate movement to Covid Care Center designated by local authority.  

10. All private offices except related to health and other essential services to function at 50 % capacity. In the case of Government/ Semi Government offices, the head of the office to take a decision regarding the staff attendance ensuring adherence to all COVID 19 protocols. The Manufacturing sector however can function at full capacity. However it is advised that the workforce be reduced to ensure adequate social distancing on the production floor. For the purpose of maintaining social distancing. manufacturing units may be allowed to increase the working shifts as approved by the local authorities. 

The manufacturing sector can operate with the follow ing restrictions — 

a. No entry still be allowed is without proper wearing of Masks. 

b. Temperature measuring devices to be used to ensure no one with fever gets an entry. 

c. Adequate hand sanitizers to be kept at various convenient locations. 

d. Concerned establishments to ensure presence of enough manpower to enforce wearing of masks as well as maintaining social distances by all visitors all the times. 

e. In case of violation of this order, concerned manufacturing units shall have to remain closed for a period until the COVID 19 pandemic stays notified as a Disaster by the Central Government. Violation shall also attract penalties under the disaster act for the owner of premises. 

II. In order to reduce the crowding at Government offices, apart from elected representatives themselves, other visitors to be not allowed without urgent work. In case of those visitors who have been called for meetings, special passes may be issued by the departments/ Head of the offices. 

12. Management trusts of all religious places to decide and declare the maximum number of visitors per hour depending upon the availability of space for movement and gathering with proper social distancing. It is advised that convenient systems like online reservations for visits may be initiated. 

Entry to these places shall be subject to the following restrictions: 

a. No entry will be allowed without proper wearing of Masks. 

b. Temperature measuring devices to be used to ensure no one with fever gets an entry.

c. Adequate hand sanitizers to be kept at various convenient locations.  

d. Concerned establishments to ensure presence of enough manpower to enforce wearing of masks as well as maintaining social distances by all visitors all the times. 

13. Public transports have been opened up with certain restrictions. Anyone found violating these restrictions shall be punishable with fine of Rs 500 by concerned the public transport authority.

14. All orders shall remain in force up to 30th April 2021 

15. Testing—The proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be scaled up on a best effort basis to 70% or more. 

16. Tracking — The new positive cases detected as a result of intensive testing need to be isolated/ quarantined at the earliest and their contacts have to be immediately traced and quarantined. 

17. It will be the responsibility of the local district, police, and municipal authorities to ensure that prescribed containment measures, testing, and tracking are strictly followed.

General guidelines:

I) Face coverings — wearing of face cover is compulsory in public places, in work places and during transport. 

2) Social distancing — Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet (2 Gaj Ki doori) in public places. Shops will ensure physical distancing among customers and will not allow more than five persons at one time. 

3) Spitting in public places will be punishable with fine, as may be prescribed by the concerned authority in accordance with its laws, rules or regulations. 

4) Consumption of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco, etc in public places is prohibited. 

Additional directives for work places:  

5) Work from Home (WFH) — as far as possible the practice of WFH should be followed. Staggering of work/business hours will be followed in offices, workplaces, shops, markets, and industrial & commercial establishments. 

6) Screening and Hygiene — provision for thermal screening, hand wash and sanitizer will be made available at all entry and exit points and common areas. 

7) Frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc. will be ensured, including between shifts. 

8) Social Distancing — all persons in charge of workplaces will ensure adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff etc.