Mumbai can unlock more but BMC to wait, Pune opens up

MUMBAI: Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai will continue to have the same level of restrictions as last week with the civic chiefs taking a cautious approach. However, Pune city is unlocking and moving from Level 3 to Level 2. Malls in Pune will be allowed open at 50% capacity but there will be restrictions on timings for shops, malls and restaurants. In MMR, Vasai-Virar and Mira-Bhayender will move up from Level 3 to Level 2 while Kalyan-Dombivli will remain at Level 3.
BMCchief Iqbal Chahal said the city will remain under Level 3 restrictions till Covid cases come down to around 100-200 per day. “We still have around 700-800 Covid-19 cases per day. We are taking a very cautious and graded approach to unlocking in Mumbai so we don’t have to go back into lockdown. We will monitor the situation closely till the last week of June and then make a decision,” Chahal told TOI. The BMC late on Friday evening issued orders stating that given Mumbai’s population, topography and the number of people who travel in and out of Mumbai using local trains daily and IMD’s forecast of heavy rain over the next few days, Mumbai will continue to remain under Level 3 restrictions till further orders.
While Pune city is unlocking, there are riders. Malls with 50% capacity can stay open till 7 pm and restaurants/bars till 10 pm. Shops can stay open till 7 pm but non-essential shops will be closed on weekends. Movement after 10 pm will not be allowed without a valid reason. Pimpri Chinchwad corporation will stay in Level 3.