Amid various measures, the Maharashtra government announced on Monday that a decision will soon be made to reopen restaurants, bars and eateries in the state. The announcement comes in the context of the Center’s new set of guidelines under the Unlock 5 plan, to gradually open up the economy amid a new coronavirus pandemic, for the month of October.
“The state government has prepared guidelines to restart the restaurant operations and has presented them to the competent authorities. Once completed, the decision will be made to reopen the restaurants,” said CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray in a meeting with representatives of business associations of restaurants.
Under the guidelines, Thackeray is considering reopening restaurants, bars and eateries in the state after more than six months of inactivity.
“A decision will be made on the reopening of the restaurants once the restaurants (SOP) are finalized,” Thackeray said in the statement.
“The state government has developed standard operating procedures for restaurant reopening and these have been sent to interested parties,” Thackeray said in the statement.
The prime minister said that given the threat from Covid-19, his government was taking cautious action and the SOPs have been formulated accordingly.
SOPs are not meant to get restaurateurs in trouble, he added.
Thackeray emphasized wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining physical distance while living with Covid-19, adding that these precautions need to be taken when restaurants reopen. He also asked officials to review requests to reduce the excise tax increase.
Restaurant canteen services in Maharashtra are reportedly able to afford 50% of actual capacity from the first week of October to contain the spread of the virus in the state. Currently, the restaurants and the state government are working together some details of the POE.
During the virtual meeting, Thackeray also spoke about the state government’s ‘My Family, My Responsibility’ initiative and urged restaurateurs to join it.
He also asked all stakeholders to sit down together and finalize the standard operating procedures.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sitaram Kunte said the SOPs will be finalized after holding another round of meetings with restaurant representatives, according to the statement.
Specialty restaurants hit the upper circuit after sources indicated that the Maharashtra government may soon allow dining services. The share price rose 9.88% or 3.25 points ₹36.15 at the close of the day.
Tata Consumer also gained and was up 1.28% or 6.50 points to ₹516.30.
From now on, shopping centers and restaurants can only offer take away services.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra recorded 18,056 new positive coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the state’s overall tally to 13,39,232, the health department said.
With 380 patients dying during the day, the figure reached 35,571, he said.
A total of 13,565 patients were discharged on Sunday. With this, the state’s recovery count stands at 10.30,015, the department said in a statement.
There are currently 2,73,228 active cases in the state.
With PTI inputs
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