Maharashtra to consider reopening restaurants and gyms; positive about it: Health Min Tope

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 6,603 fresh cases of COVID-19, taking tally of confirmed cases to 2,23,724. After  state government h allowed opening of hotels, lodges, resorts and or places of accommodation for public, it said that it is planning to reopen restaurants and gyms in coming days.

State Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said government is considering reopening of restaurants and gymnasiums and it is "positive about it". He said if social distancing rms are strictly followed, n re is problem in reopening se two.

Maharashtra government on Monday allowed hotels and or entities providing accommodation services outside containment zones to resume operations at 33% of ir capacity from July 8. A government tification, which also covers lodges and guest houses, to this effect was issued. 

permission has been granted on conditions of se entities hering to social distancing rms and or protocols to avoid spre of infection.

government's move came a day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray interacted with various associations of hotels and lodges and assured m of taking a decision soon on reopening after finalising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). on-going lockdown in state will be in force till July 31.

 While allowing hotels to reopen partially, government has asked hoteliers to ensure only asymptomatic guests are given entry.

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91,084 active COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra

virus claimed lives of 198 more people, which pushed death toll in state to 9,448, health department said. Of total number of deaths, 62 succumbed to infection in Mumbai alone. As many as 4,634 patients recovered from infection and were discharged from hospitals across state during day, it ded.

With this, number of recovered patients has w gone up to 1,23,192. re are 91,084 active cases in state at present, department said. Out of total 6,603 new cases, Mumbai reported 1,347, Pune city 1,049 and Aurangab city 153 cases.  recovery rate in state is 55.06% while fatality rate is 4.22%. So far, 11,61,311 people have been tested in state.

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(With ncy inputs)