Easing Lockdown Restrictions, Maharashtra to Allow Hotels to Reopen From July 8

In effort to give relief to the struggling hotel industry, the Maharashtra government on Monday issued new guidelines for easing lockdown restrictions further. The hotels in the state outside the containment zones will be allowed to reopen with 33% capacity from Wednesday, July 8.

According to the state health department, Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally rose to 2,06,619 on Sunday with the single-day spike of 6,555 new cases on the same day.

The state government has clarified that all establishments will have to adhere to the stringent guidelines. The permission has been granted on conditions of these entities adhering to social distancing norms and other protocols. The government also stated that in case any of these places are presently being used as a quarantine facility, then it can continue to be used as same unless decided otherwise by the district or municipal administration. The administration can also continue using the rest 67% capacity for quarantine facility purposes.

Some of the guidelines are as follows:

1. Use of Aarogya Setu app is mandatory.

2. Visitors to be allowed to enter hotels only after proper thermal screening.

3. Only asymptomatic guests to be allowed and that too, only if they are wearing masks and it has to be worn when inside the establishment as well.

4. Hand sanitizers to be provided to all the hotel residents, visitors and staff.

5. Hotel staff to wear protective gear like masks, hand-gloves etc.

6. Hotels are encouraged to use contactless payment methods such as digital payment etc.

7. Public rooms in hotels including gymnasiums, gaming centre, etc. to remain shut until further instructions.

8. In case a confirmed case is suspected, the guest will have to be housed in a room or in an area where they are isolated from others.

While this is a welcome news for the hotel industry, utmost caution should be take while checking into an establishment.

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