Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will tighten the restrictions enforced to curtail COVID-19 infection from 8 pm onwards on April 22 (Thursday) and the conditions will remain in effect till 7 am on May 1.

State Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte on Wednesday issued these new guidelines. According to the new guidelines, all government offices, including the State, Central and local government offices, will operate only with 15 per cent attendance except for emergency services directly connected to the management of the COVID-19 outbreak.

GUIDELINES FOR OFFICE STAFF

· All Government Offices (State, Central, under local authority) to operate only with 15 per cent attendance except for emergency services directly connected to management of COVID 19 pandemic.

· In the case of Mantralaya and Central Government offices in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the Head of the Department can decide for higher attendance after seeking permission for the same from the CEO of the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority.

· In case of other government offices, the Head of the Office can decide for higher attendance after seeing permission for the same from local Disaster Management Authority.

· For all other offices mentioned under Section 5 of Break the Chain Order dated 13 April 2021, they should function only with 15 per cent of their total attendance or 5 people whichever is more.

· For all the office works required for essential services mentioned in Section 2 of Break the Chain Order dated 13 April 2021, should work at the lowest required capacity for the same and in no case exceed 50 per cent. Attendance of personnel actually delivering the essential services on the ground should also be minimised but can be extended up to 100 per cent as per the requirements.

RESTRICTIONS ON MARRIAGE CEREMONY

The state government also put cap on the marriage ceremony. The order clearly stated that the ceremony may be conducted only as a single event in a single hall not exceeding two hours, with a maximum total of 25 people attending the function. Any family flouting the rule will be fined Rs 50,000 and the location where rules are defied will be closed till the declaration of COVID -19 as a disaster remains in force.