Amid tighter movement restrictions as the city and the state continue to battle a consistently rising trajectory of fresh Covid-19 cases, Mumbai civic authorities on Thursday allowed 24-hour home deliveries of food and essential supplies through online service providers like Zomato and Swiggy on all days of the week.
During the weekend lockdown, only home delivery is allowed and no in-person takeaways are permitted, the BMC said in amendments issued in line with Maharashtra government’s Break the Chain orders of April 4 and April 5.
Bars and wine shops are permitted home delivery. Eye clinics and opticians shops are allowed to remain open within the given time as per state orders. Students and candidates who have to attend various exams including competitive exams are allowed to travel during the weekend lockdown and their examination hall ticket to be considered valid accompanied by one parent/guardian.
All beaches have been closed till April 30. People arriving in Mumbai by train, bus and flight are allowed to travel at all times. The same is applicable for outbound passengers.
During the weekend lockdown, roadside food stalls including fruit sellers are allowed to provide delivery or takeaway services. No person is allowed to stand at stalls and consume food.
Movement of domestic helps, cooks, drivers, nurses and medical attendees providing services to senior citizens and ailing people at home is allowed between 7 am to 10 pm on all days.
Municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal has also said that every housing society with more than five cases will be declared a micro-containment zone in Mumbai and police personnel will be deployed outside the gate of the society to ensure compliance.
In a fresh circular issued for housing societies, the BMC has said that visitors will not be allowed in the micro-containment zone and it will be the responsibility of the society to monitor residents’ movement. As per the circular, police shall also oversee strict implementation of these guidelines by the office-bearers of the society and in case of any lapse may bring it to the notice of the respective ward official.
As per the circular, no one will be allowed entry or exit in such a society except in specific cases. “No egress shall be allowed except with the concurrence of the secretary/chairman of the society and the police personnel deployed in each of these micro-containment zones and that too for exceptional cases like medical emergencies and board exams.”
Delivery of essential items including milk and newspapers is allowed only till the society gate or the office. “It shall be the duty of the concerned society to device a mechanism for further delivery to the concerned flat owner.”
The circular says that it will be the responsibility of the office-bearers of the society to seal flats where asymptomatic patients reside. Any lapse on part of the society will attract a fine of Rs 10,000 at the first instance and Rs 20,000 for a repeat offence. An asymptomatic patient residing in the society should strictly follow home isolation. If patient is found violating norms an FIR will be registered.
Health officials can visit micro-containment zones for monitoring and inspection. Home collection of swabs for Covid-19 test will be allowed in these zones.