MUMBAI: With the significant easing of COVID-19 cases, Maharashtra has announced through a notification that shopping complexes, restaurants, cinema and theatre halls in 14 districts including Mumbai will be allowed to operate at 100 per cent capacity.

The 14 districts include major cities like Mumbai city & suburban, Pune, Nagpur, Ratnagiri, and Kolhapur and have been selected on certain criteria that in these places, the first vaccination dose is more than 90 per cent, second dose over 70 per cent, positivity rate less than 10 per cent. 

Occupancy of bed on oxygen supported or ICU bed is less than 40 per cent is also a major factor for that was considered for lifting the restrictions. However, the criteria of the double dose are still mandatory for people accessing public places in these districts. 

The state also achieved the distinction of recording zero Covid fatality today, which is the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. The first death due to Corona was reported from Mumbai on 17th March 2020 when a senior citizen died after contracting the virus. By June 2020 the deaths in the state had peaked at 1049 fatalities.

The fatality situation in Mumbai continues to be zero for the past six days with only about 100 new cases being reported, statewide the total case reported was 544.

Health experts however have a word of caution, that although the Covid wave had flattened and it may have turned 'endemic' however the risk of contracting the virus is still very much there, especially for the comorbid, senior citizens and vulnerable persons. 

Several doctors are recommending that vulnerable people like comorbid and senior citizens should take a booster dose as a precautionary measure.