Through PTI

MUMBAI: Tightening restrictions in the face of rising COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on Saturday banned public travel in groups of five or more from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., effective January 10 to midnight.

In addition, no movement will be allowed in public from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., except for essential services, a government circular said.

The state had reported more than 40,000 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday.

Schools and colleges will be closed until February 15, except for activities required for students in grades 10 and 12 and administrative activities for teachers, he said.

No visitors will be allowed into government offices except with the written permission of the heads of office.

An online interaction function will be provided to people by videoconference.

Government offices should opt for working from home and working hours should be staggered if office work is required, according to the circular.

Private offices have also been urged to rationalize the number of employees coming to work by allowing work from home and staggering working hours.

Participation in weddings and social, religious, cultural or political gatherings will be capped at 50.

At the funeral, no more than 20 people can be present.

Swimming pools, gymnasiums, spas, wellness centers and beauty salons will remain closed.

Hairdressing salons will be operating at 50 percent of their capacity.

Sporting events would be postponed, with the exception of already scheduled national and international level competitions.

But such events would take place without spectators and with the creation of a bio-bubble for players and officials.

RT-PCR and rapid antigen testing will be mandatory for players and officials on all three days of the event or tournament, according to the circular.

Amusement parks, zoos, museums, forts and other places where there is a charge for the public will be closed.

Shopping malls and market complexes can operate at 50% of their capacity, and information on the current number of visitors should be displayed on a notice board.

Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter malls and shopping complexes, and these establishments will be closed after 10 p.m.

The restaurants will also be operating at 50% of their capacity and the current number of visitors will be displayed on the notice board.

They too can only stay open until 10 p.m.

Cinemas and theaters will also operate at 50% of their capacity.

Public transport will only be allowed for fully vaccinated people.

Competitive exams, for which hall tickets have been issued, will be conducted according to central government guidelines.

All other future reviews will only be held after receiving permission from the National Disaster Management Authority, according to the circular.

Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday his government wanted to prevent health services from being put under undue pressure.

Thackeray said he has called on authorities to take strict action against those who violate Covid’s Standards of Appropriate Behavior (CAB).

He called on people not to become “corona messengers” and put the lives of others in danger.

“We have been battling the virus for two years and have managed to cope with two waves of the pandemic by taking cautious action.

The virus, in a different avatar, spread quickly, ”the CM said.

“Instead of discussing whether it is mild or serious, we need to take action to stop it, otherwise our health infrastructure will be under enormous pressure,” he said.

He was unwilling to impose a full lockdown, Thackeray said.

“We don’t want to harm livelihoods but want to prevent overcrowding. When restrictions were relaxed last year, some people continued to follow health protocols, but others were complacent and irresponsible. not tolerated, “said the CM.

There was enough medical infrastructure in place, but if doctors and nurses got sick, “where do we get the human resources from,” he asked.

Referring to the closure of educational institutions, he said steps are being taken to ensure education is not hampered and online education will continue.

Thackeray also called on people to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

The restrictions can be made more stringent in districts with low immunization, he warned.

The postgraduate and postgraduate exams at Maharashtra First University of Health Sciences in Nashik have been postponed due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, especially those caused by the new Omicron variant, an official said on Saturday.

He said the graduate exam, which was scheduled to start Jan. 17, will now start from Feb. 14, while the graduate exam, which was set to start Jan. 31, will now start from Feb. February 28.

The decision was taken at a meeting on Friday attended by the state’s Minister of Medical Education Amit Deshmukh, MUHS Vice-Chancellor Lt. Gen. Dr Madhuri Kanitkar (retired ) and Department of Medical Education Commissioner Virendra Singh, among others, the official added.

Meanwhile, up to 68 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) employees working in its Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) office here have contracted a coronavirus infection, a central agency official said on Saturday.

The CBI had asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to test 235 people working in the BKC office, he said.

“Of this batch of 235 staff, including officials, 68 have tested positive. The infected have been asked to quarantine at home,” he added.

Despite an increase in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, hospitalization and oxygen requirements were low, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said in Jalna on Saturday.

He said the state task force and the health department have given their assessment of the COVID-19 situation to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray who will decide the extent of restrictions etc.

He added that 41,000 cases had been detected in the state on Friday, although there were no additions to the Omicron tally.

“Those with cough, fever, etc., including children, should get tested. Elderly people with co-morbidities and frontline health workers should opt for the precautionary dose of vaccine, including the campaign will start on January 10, “the minister said.