After nearly two months of strict lockdown-type restrictions, the Maharashtra government has decided to cautiously initiate a five-phased Unlock 2.0 from Monday (June 7), starting with 18 of the state's 36 districts, officials said here on Saturday.
Both, Mumbai and Pune, are among the worst-affected do not figure in the list yet.
It will be clear today whether the new unlock rules will give full relief to Pune city. Even if the city with a positivity below five per cent is placed in the second level category, the positivity rate of Pune city is slightly higher than 5%, it is 5.16%.
The new rules for the unlock process were announced by the state government yesterday. Cities with a positivity of less than five per cent and oxygen beds less than 25 per cent are ranked in the first level.
Cities with less than five per cent positivity and 25 to 40 per cent oxygen beds are in the second phase.
The third level has cities with positivity between one to ten percent. In Pune city, the positivity rate is 5.16% and 22 % oxygen bed occupancy.
If the city of Pune is included in the second level, the opening hours of shops will remain the same, then malls and multiplexes as well as restaurants will be able to start at 50 per cent capacity.
Private offices could also start, sports complexes would be allowed, and the wedding could be attended by fifty percent of the people.
However, considering the 5.16% positivity rate, if the third group is included, the shop will be allowed to open till pm. The malls, multiplexes will be completely closed while only fifty per cent of the capacity on the road will be allowed to continue till four o'clock.
Sports complexes and parks will remain open only between five and nine in the morning, while private offices will be allowed to remain open until four o'clock, even at 50 per cent capacity.
Pune Municipal Corporation will announce the rules in this regard today. In a meeting held on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the rules would be implemented from Monday.