COVID-19: Maharashtra govt announces 5-level unlock plan

Maharashtra which is one the worst affected state by covid-19, on Thursday announced a 5-level unlock plan as it is witnesses a steady decline in the daily cases of the coronavirus in the state.

Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar announced that there would be no lockdown-related restrictions in districts with the lowest positivity rate categorized as Level 1 will have no restrictions. 

LEVEL 1: The positivity rate in the district should be less than 5% and bed occupancy should be lower than 25%. Level 1 districts will be allowed to completely unlock and all activities will continue normally.

Districts under Level 1: Aurangabad, Bhandara, Dhule, Gadchiroli, Jalgaon, Jalna, Nanded, Nashik, Parbhani and Thane.

Districts under Level  2: Amravati, Hingoli, Mumbai and Nandurbar.

However, Mumbai will not unlock despite having a case positivity rate below 5 percent. 

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said it will observe the situation till June 15 before relaxing restrictions. Local trains in Mumbai local will remain shut for now.

Theatres, malls, private and government offices will be permitted to open in these districts. Weddings, funerals and film shooting will also be allowed in such places, said Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar.

Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded 15,169 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 57,76,184, and 285 fresh deaths and also added 268 previously unreported fatalities, the state health department said.