Published 23:20 IST, March 17th 2020
COVID-19 crisis:BMC amends social distancing order; more exemptions to 50% attendance rule
The BMC amended its order for social distancing in Mumbai amid the COVID-19 crisis. As per the BMC, some elements in the earlier directive have been tightened.
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On Tuesday, the BMC amended its order for social distancing in the wake of the novel coronavirus crisis. As per the new directives issued by BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi, malls, mill compound, spa centres, clubs, pubs, discotheques, Sanjay Gandhi National Park and amusement parks have also been ordered to be closed in Mumbai. Moreover, all private and public companies have been asked to function by allowing only 50% of staff to attend the office on any day.
However, port, electricity, petroleum, oil, energy, and media have been added to the list of establishments providing essential services that are exempted from the 50% work from home rule. Furthermore, it has been stressed that spitting in any public place will attract a fine of Rs.1,000.
#OfficialUpdateMumbai#SocialDistancing#BasicHygiene
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) March 17, 2020
MC tightened few key elements in the earlier directive:
1⃣ Strict action to be taken against anyone found spitting in public
2⃣ More entities to be closed now - incl malls, mills, clubs, pubs & more
Ref note#NaToCorona https://t.co/8kWUz2fAzQ pic.twitter.com/EH2qXVO4oH
This was the earlier order:
#OfficialUpdateMumbai
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) March 16, 2020
Hon MC triggered 4 key decisions to:
1⃣Restrict non-essential movement & congregations
2⃣Advise Pvt & Govt offices to work at 50% capacity
3⃣Activate expansion of quarantine & paid-for facilities
4⃣Mark HQ to create greater accountability#NaToCorona https://t.co/2rWAelEgGw pic.twitter.com/2zelLTAhus
The coronavirus crisis in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra government has taken a number of steps to deal with the novel Coronavirus pandemic. On March 13, CM Uddhav Thackeray declared COVID-19 as an epidemic by invoking the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act. Moreover, he stated that gyms, swimming schools and theatres in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, Pimpri-Chinchwad would be closed till March 30. A day later, the government confirmed that all schools and colleges in urban areas besides malls will be shut till March 31.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on March 15, according to sources. The PM and Thackeray deliberated on the measures to tackle the menace of the novel coronavirus. Currently, Maharashtra has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country at 41 besides one death reported in Mumbai.
23:20 IST, March 17th 2020