In a bid to contain the spread of COVID19 infection in the much deadlier ‘second wave’, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had announced curfew-like restrictions in the state from 8 pm on April 14 to May 1 morning. 

Thackeray upped the strictness of restrictions that were in effect since April 6 and exempted only essential services. He also announced a relief package worth Rs 5,476-crore so as to compensate for the loss of livelihoods as a result of the 15-day long curfew. 

Here is a detailed list of  ‘essential services’ allowed in Maharashtra during the ongoing curfew: 

Hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, vaccinations, medical insurance offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, other medical and related medical and health services are allowed to remain open.

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Groceries, vegetable sellers, fruit vendors, dairies, bakeries, confectionaries and all types of food shops are allowed to be opened from 7 am to 8 pm. 

Public transports are allowed as well but with 50 per cent capacity. These include airplanes, trains, taxis, autos and public buses. 

Transport of goods, export-import of all commodities also allowed but e-commerce or online sales of only essential goods and services allowed to function. 

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Agriculture-related activities are also included under the ambit of essential services and all allied activities that are needed to support the agricultural sector are also allowed. 

Services such as veterinary services/animal care shelters and pet food shops will remain functional as well.

Apart from this, the local disaster management authority has been given the power to decide additional services as essential. Principle is ‘essential for essential is essential.’ stated the order.

What all is included in the exempted list? 

Offices that can remain open with 50 per cent capacity are —  offices of the central, state and local governments and their statutory authorities and organisations, cooperative, PSU and private banks, offices of companies providing essential services, insurance/mediclaim companies, pharmaceutical company offices, entities regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and intermediaries, all non-banking financial corporations.

Also, private vehicles including private buses can be used only for the purpose of emergency, essential services or for valid reasons deemed fit by the authorities.

Restaurants and bars strictly shut for in-dining but can be open for in-house guests and home delivery services are allowed from restaurants. The parcels or home deliveries are allowed between 7 am to 8 pm every day from roadside eateries. But food is not allowed to be served at the location of the eatery. 

The state, being a manufacturing hub, has special provisions for exemption for the manufacturing sector. All units that manufacture products needed for essential services are to remain operational with full capacity.

However, the units that have processes that cannot be suspended with immediate effect or cannot restart without considerable time in between may continue with a maximum of 50 per cent capacity of their workforce at any given point of time.

 It is expected that these industries will make arrangements to provide accommodation to their labourers on the premises or at an isolated facility from where movement is to take place in an isolated bubble.

What are the services that will totally remain shut?

Cinema halls, theatres, auditoriums, amusement parks, video game parlours, water parks, clubs, swimming pools, gyms and sports complexes will remain closed. 

Shootings for films, serials and advertisements are also prohibited during the curfew restrictions.

Public places like beaches, gardens, open spaces etc shall remain closed.

All shops, malls, shopping centres that don’t come under essential services shall remain shut. Also, barber shops, spas, salons and beauty parlours will not be allowed to function. 

All schools and colleges shall remain closed. Religious places of worship will also remain closed. No religious, social, cultural or political functions of any kind shall be allowed during the curfew.

However, a maximum of 25 people are allowed for marriages and a maximum of 20 people for funerals.