The restriction has been announced a day after the city recorded the highest-ever single-day spike with 2,877 fresh cases on Thursday.
Due to the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC as it is called, has issued fresh guidelines for Mumbaikars. As per the new COVID-19 guidelines, which will come into effect from March 22, people visiting malls and shopping centres will have to undergo antigen tests or carry a negative RT-PCR report.
If any visitor doesn't have a negative COVID-19 test report, then he/she will have to get a Rapid Antigen Test done at the entrance of the shopping mall. "A team will be designated at the entrance for this very purpose. The details are being worked out," BMC official said.
The restriction has been announced a day after the city recorded the highest-ever single-day spike with 2,877 fresh cases on Thursday. With 17,153 active cases, the Mumbai district now has the third-highest number of active infections in the country.
Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had asked divisional commissioners to ensure restrictions are strictly implemented to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. CM Thackeray also met mall owners and asked them to follow COVID-19 protocols.
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar has said that all city residents have to work together to curb the spread of the virus and avoid the imposition of a lockdown.
The BMC has already announced that if any society or building has five or more COVID-19 positive residents on its premises, then the building will be sealed.
Since the highest number of COVID-19 cases are coming from Maharashtra, the state government has imposed lockdown-like restrictions in several districts to curtail the spread.
Maharashtra COVID-19 cases
On Thursday, the state recorded 25,833 new coronavirus cases, the highest single-day spike since last March.
The previous single-day peak of 24,886 new coronavirus cases was registered on September 11, 2020.
This takes the state's total count of COVID-19 cases to 23,96,340.
The death toll from COVID-19 jumped to 53,138 with 58 new fatalities.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region has surpassed the 20,000 mark to reach 20,009 with 14 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Fresh restrictions in Maharashtra
Social, cultural, religious gatherings are prohibited. The cap on guests allowed for weddings has been fixed at 50.
In case norms are violated, strict action will be taken against the owners of premises, like wedding halls.
Only 20 people at a time can take part in a funeral procession.
Domestic passengers arriving from Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Kerala shall carry RT-PCR negative test report with them conducted 72 hours before.
Passengers arriving in the state will be thermally screened.
If found symptomatic, they will have to get tested for COVID-19 at their own expense.
BMC has asked teachers and non-teaching staff of Mumbai schools to work from home till further order.
BMC said that from March 17, schools of all boards, till Class 12, will have to ask staff to work from home.
All cinema halls, hotels, and restaurants are to operate at 50% capacity.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Mumbai local train")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}