Maharashtra announces 5-level unlock plan to lift restrictions
Mumbai/IBNS: Maharashtra, the worst Covid-hit state in the country, announced a five-phased unlock strategy on Thursday with the rate of infections from the virus slowly receding.
The levels of unlocking have been decided on basis of positivity rate and total oxygen beds occupancy.
It will range from areas from where lockdown has completely been lifted and those that will face the strictest of restrictions.
Lockdown will be lifted completely in districts categorised as Level 1, Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation minister Vijay Waddettiwar informed reporters on Thursday afternoon.
There are 18 districts in the first level including Thane. Level 5 has been dubbed the Red Zone, which will be under complete lockdown.
India's financial capital Mumbai is on Level 2 of unlocking. The local train service, which is the lifeline of the city, will remain shut for now.
As the country was reeling under the threat of the second wave of Covid-19, Maharashtra was among the first few states to announce a lockdown which remains in place till June 15.
However, the government eased some of the conditions on Sunday, allowing shops of essential items to remain open till 2 pm instead of 11 am in districts which had less than 10 per cent Covid positivity rate.
The state has also allowed the delivery of non-essential items through e-commerce, which was on freeze.
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