Mumbai locals to allow fully vaccinated people on board

In a major relief to officegoers and others who need to commute within the city and its vicinity, CM Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday the general public would be allowed to board local trains from August 15, Independence Day, provided they had completed 14 days after the second dose.There would be an app-based pass as well as an offline method to obtain the pass, he said in an address to the state on social media. He appealed to private offices to implement a system of staggered working hours to avoid crowding. About 19 lakh people in the city have been fully vaccinated so far. 85166701On easing of curbs at places of worship and providing more relaxations to hotels, restaurants and malls, Thackeray said a decision would be taken in the next 8-10 days following a meeting with the state Covid task force on Monday.Lockdown-like restrictions will be back if cases rise, warns CMChief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that from August 15 ordinary people would be allowed to travel on suburban trains in the city and its vicinity if they had completed 14 days since having been fully vaccinated.“A decision on hotels, restaurants, malls and places of worship will be taken in the next eight to ten days,” Thackeray said. “However, people should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour as Covid has not been eliminated yet. We can stop the third wave of Covid by adhering to social distancing norms, wearing masks and washing hands regularly.” 85166660In Pune city, authorities said that from Monday, essential and non-essential shops may remain open till 8pm six days a week and malls al through the week. Restaurants and bars in Pune may operate at 50% seating capacity till 10pm, with parcels and home deliveries till 11pm.Last Monday, the MVA government had allowed malls, gymnasiums, yoga centres, salons, beauty parlours and spas to reopen with 50% capacity in the state. It had permitted shops and establishments to remain open till 8pm on weekdays and 3pm on Saturdays in 22 districts. In the city, the BMC allowed shops and establishments except malls to remain open till 10pm on all days but permitted hotels and restaurants to operate only till 4pm through the week. Pune, too, had framed its own rules.In his latest address, Thackeray cautioned that lockdown-like curbs could be imposed again if Covid-19 cases rose and if a third wave hit the state.On the app-based passes for local train travel, the chief minister said fully vaccinated people would be able to upload their details and use a QR code to download the pass. He said people who do not have smartphones could obtain passes from BMC ward offices or stations.After the Covid-19 restrictions began in March last year, the state had last allowed the general public to board local trains from February 1 this year with staggered timings.

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/3AqoNmo