Mumbai: The Maharashtra government tightened the Covid-19 unlocking process in the wake of a rise in cases of Delta Plus variant. The state on Friday also recorded the first death among patients infected by this variant.
All districts in Maharashtra must impose at least Level 3 restrictions irrespective of indices like weekly positivity rate and hospital beds availability to prevent the spread of the more dangerous Delta Plus Covid variant, the state’s Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte has said in an order.
“Given that the virus causing Covid is undergoing mutations in various geographies and that these mutations are displaying more transmissibility and potential reductions in monoclonal antibody response, a State Level Trigger mandating all the administrative units, irrespective of values of the indices of weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy percentage to remain at a level not below 3 is to be in operation till withdrawn by specific order of SDMA,” the order reads.
Under Level 3 restrictions, restaurants, gyms, salons, spas can be allowed to open till 4 pm with 50 per cent occupancy; private offices can operate with 50 per cent occupancy; marriages with 50 guests and funerals with 20 people are allowed; malls and theatres must remain shut.
Maharashtra is among a handful of states where cases of the Delta Plus variant have been detected so far. As on Friday, it had 20 cases, highest in the country, while the national tally stood at 48. The Centre however said there are still “very limited” cases of this mutation and it cannot be said that it is showing an upward trend.