MUMBAI: A day after malls in the Mumbai region shut down due to a rule allowing only a fully vaccinated workforce, health minister Rajesh Tope said that the government is not considering relaxing the rule at the moment.
The day was marked by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s review of the Covid-19 situation in the state and another appeal to the public to behave responsibly and not organise political, social and religious events. The statement comes days after the BJP's four newly inducted Union ministers from Maharashtra began Jan Aashirwad Yatras in the state.
Tope told TOI that rules regarding easing of curbs were formulated after taking into account suggestions by the Covid task force which includes many senior doctors.
The state has eased most curbs since August 15 but restaurants, malls, shops, marriage halls were mandated to have only fully vaccinated staff 14 days after the second dose. And in the case of malls, only fully vaccinated customers above 18 years are allowed entry. Mall associations have approached the government seeking relaxations in the rules. Tope told TOI that “I am telling the associations that if they have to ensure staff is fully vaccinated, it is not only for the welfare of customers but for their staff as well. At the moment we are not considering any further relaxation.”
He added that the government has urged all businesses to use vaccine stocks available in the private sector to inoculate their staffers. "They can go through the public vaccination centres where the problem of erratic supply continues, we are also urging them to tie up with private players for mass vaccination camps," said Tope.
Thackeray has appealed to the public to ensure that they follow all Covid-19 protocols, especially with the festival season coming. There was a discussion on the Jan Aashirwad Yatra being organised by BJP leaders in the state and some ministers were of the opinion that these should not be allowed.
"Relaxations have been given to keep the economy afloat. It worries me when I see people gathering crowds by organising social, political and religious events and endangering the lives of others," said Thackeray. "As oxygen production in the state has its limitations, we have made oxygen requirement the criterion for bringing back restrictions," said Thackeray.
