The Maharashtra government has finally permitted cinemas and malls to reopen in those districts where the COVID-19 positivity rate is low and the oxygen bed occupancy rate is also low. To relax the restrictions imposed to check the spread of COVID-19, the relief and rehabilitation minister had on 3rd June announced a five-level unlock plan which, within hours of being announced, was withdrawn by the chief minister’s office. After two days, the chief minister has said that the plan holds good with effect from 7th June.
Under the plan, the eligible districts of the state are eligible to lift the COVID restrictions from 8th June. The five-level unlock plan will be based on the weekly positivity rate and the hospital bed occupancy of the district.
Level 1: It will comprise districts where the positivity rate is less than 5% AND oxygen bed occupancy is less than 25%.
Level 2: It consists of districts where the positivity rate is less than 5% AND oxygen bed occupancy is between 25% and 40%.
Level 3: It comprises districts where the positivity rate is between 5% and 10% OR oxygen bed occupancy is more than 40%.
Level 4: It consists of districts where the positivity rate is between 10% and 20% OR oxygen bed occupancy is more than 60%.
Level 5: It consists of districts where the positivity rate is more than 20% OR oxygen bed occupancy is more than 75%.
In the districts falling in the first category (level 1), everything will be permitted to reopen. In such districts, cinemas will be allowed to reopen at full capacity. Shootings of films, TV serials and web series will also be permitted in the said districts. Malls will also be permitted to reopen, and unlimited attendance at weddings will also be allowed. The districts which fit into level 1 as on June 3, 2021 were 10 in number, viz. Ahmednagar, Chandrapur, Dhule, Gondia, Jalgaon, Jalna, Latur, Nagpur, Nanded and Yavatmal.
In such districts, cinemas will be allowed to reopen at full capacity. Shootings of films, TV serials and web series will also be permitted in the said districts.
In the level 2 category districts/cities, gymnasiums, salons and beauty parlours will be allowed to reopen but at 50% capacities. The BMC commissioner said, Bombay will fall under level 2. However, soon thereafter, it was clarified that Bombay would fall under level 3. Whatever the level, it has been made clear that the lifeline of Bombay city — the local trains — will not be available yet to the general public. As on June 3, Hingoli and Nandurbar were the only two districts under level 2.
As on June 3, districts under level 3 (totally 15) were Akola, Amravati, Aurangabad, Beed, Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Bombay, Nasik, Osmanabad, Palghar, Parbhani, Solapur, Thane, Wardha and Washim. The eight districts under level 4 as on that date were Buldhana, Kolhapur, Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara and Sindhudurg.
