Maharashtra: Grocery stores to open only between 7-11 am
What's the story
In Maharashtra, all grocery stores, vegetable shops, dairies, bakeries, and fruit vendors will be open only between 7 am and 11 am, according to a new state government order. These shops were earlier allowed to open until 8 pm. Further, home deliveries will not be allowed after 8 pm. Here are more details on this.
Details
Home delivery allowed from 7 am to 8 pm
Home delivery of groceries and food may be allowed between 7 am and 8 pm, depending on the local authorities, the government order reportedly said. The decision was taken after a meeting of the Maharashtra government chaired by the state's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the wake of the spiralling COVID-19 cases across the state.
Reason
'People stepping out in the name of buying grocery'
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said after attending the meet, "It is must to keep a tab on people who come out of homes in the name of purchasing grocery." "Dada (Pawar) said that we must keep grocery shops open only for four hours between 7 am to 11 am," Tope told reporters in Mumbai.
Curbs
Last week, Maharashtra government enforced curbs for 15 days
Just last week, the Maharashtra government had announced strict "lockdown-like" curbs for a period of 15 days to contain the spread of the coronavirus. It allowed only essential services to operate and placed a ban on gatherings. Section 144, that discourages the assembly of people, was also imposed across the state as part of the order.
Situation
Maharashtra worst-hit state in the outbreak
Maharashtra is the worst-hit Indian state in the COVID-19 outbreak. The state had reported 68,631 new cases on Sunday, its highest single-day surge in infections. Yesterday, the number dipped to 58,924 fresh infections. India is currently in the middle of a dreadful second wave of infections, reporting lakhs of new coronavirus cases and hundreds of deaths daily.