Maharashtra gears up for 5-level unlock plan: What is allowed, and what's not

Maharashtra, the state hit worst by Covid, has decided on a 5-level unlock strategy as the COVID-19 numbers in the state have showed a downward trend.

The extent of unlocking will vary from district to district ranging from level 1 to level 5 — level 1 being the one allowing maximum relaxations. The five-level unlocking plan has been prepared taking into account the Covid-19 positivity rate, the medical infrastructure of the districts, officials said.

Level 1 districts will be allowed to unlock almost completely with restaurants, malls, shops and public places reopening. Offices, gyms will also be allowed to resume operations. Aurangabad, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Dhule, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Jalgaon, Jalna, Latur, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Yavatmal, Washim, Wardha, Parbhani and Thane fall under the tentative list of level 1 districts.

Level 2 districts will reopen partially with gyms, salons, beauty parlours functioning at 50 per cent occupancy. But Section 144 will remain imposed in districts falling under level 2.

Level 3,4 and 5 will see a limited to no lifting of restrictions.

The levels have been decided on basis of positivity rate and total oxygen beds occupancy -- and will range from areas from where lockdown has completely been lifted and those that will face the strictest of restrictions.

Lockdown can be lifted completely in districts categorised as Level 1, Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation minister Vijay Waddettiwar tol reporters this 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.

While announcing that restrictions to stop the chain of transmission of Covid will remain in place till June 15, the government eased some of the conditions on Sunday, allowing shops of essential items to remain open till 2 pm instead of 11 am.

Owing to these restrictions, the Covid-19 situation of the state — the worst-affected in both the first and the second wave of the pandemic — became stable in the past few weeks.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had earlier announced a night curfew and weekend lockdown in the state to curb the spread of the virus.