In the wake of continued rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state government decided to impose night curfew across the state from Sunday.
According to media reports, the decision was taken after a meeting of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray with district magistrates to assess the pandemic situation in the state.
Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Gujarat collectively account for 80 per cent of the new COVID-19 cases. Maharashtra had recorded 35,952 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, the highest one-day rise since the pandemic began.
The CM instructed authorities concerned to ensure strict adherence to night curfew rules.
Accordingly, malls will remain closed from 8 pm to 7am
Meanwhile, the state government has also issued guidelines for Holi, Good Friday, Easter celebrations.
Holi will be celebrated on March 28 and Rang Panchami falls a day later.
People should celebrate Holi in a simple manner and crowding should be avoided, the state government said. "The festival should be celebrated in a simple manner, observing social distancing norms and without coming together in any way given the increasing spread of COVID-19. Rang Panchami too should be celebrated in a simple manner," the government said in a statement.
"No big religious or cultural programmes should be organised on the day of Holi and Rang Panchami," the government added.
The state government also urged the Christian community to observe Good Friday (on April 2) and celebrate Easter Sunday (on April 4) in a simple manner in view of the spread of the disease. It said adherence to COVID-19 protocols, including wearing masks, using hand sanitisers etc, must be ensured, adding that efforts must also be made to broadcast prayer meets online. "No religious programme that can attract crowd in any way should be organised. Besides, procession should not be taken out," the statement said.
— With PTI inputs
