COVID-19: Traders happy as curbs ease in Thane, Navi Mumbai

Traders heaved a sigh of relief as shops selling non-essential items and other commercial establishments reopened on Monday in Thane city and neighboring Navi Mumbai, which are categorized under level-2 of the Maharashtra government's 'unlock' plan.

There was increased movement of citizens in public places, but they were seen adhering to social distancing norms and wearing masks.

A number of public transport buses were seen plying on roads in Thane and Navi Mumbai, but they were not crowded.

The Maharashtra government on Friday issued a notification for a five-level plan to relax the coronavirus-induced restrictions in the state, based on the weekly positivity rate and the occupancy of oxygen beds.

In the level-2 category, cities and districts where the positivity rate is five percent and oxygen bed occupancy are 25 to 40 percent, essential and non-essential shops are being allowed to open as per the regular timings, but malls, theatres, multiplexes, auditoriums, and restaurants have been directed to function at 50 percent capacity.

Public places and private offices can be opened.

Social and political gatherings will be allowed with 50 percent capacity. Curfew orders will remain in place.

Gyms, salons, beauty centers can open with 50 percent capacity, as per the government order.

Pranlal Thakkar, who runs a grocery shop in the main Thane market, said, ''The government has provided us the much-needed relief and we will ensure all COVID-19 norms are followed for our own safety as well as that of customers. Life will limp back to normalcy.'' In the morning, not many offices and commercial establishments were open and people were still in a wait-and-watch mode.

Civic authorities and police were keeping a watch on activities in markets and other public places to ensure strict compliance with the orders.

Other cities and towns, including Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Mira-Bhayander, Ulhasnagar, and Vasai-Virar, in Thane and neighboring Palghar districts, are in the level-3 category, which is for places where the positivity rate is five percent to 10 percent and the oxygen bed occupancy is more than 40 percent.

At such places, essential shops have been allowed to remain open till 4 pm, while non-essential shops can remain open till 4 pm only on weekdays. Malls and multiplexes will remain shut and restaurants can open with 50 percent capacity till 4 pm on weekdays.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)