Maharashtra on Friday reported the first death due to the Delta Plus variant of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. An 80-year-old woman with comorbidities from Ratnagiri district succumbed to the infection, said health minister Rajesh Tope.
With Delta and Delta Plus variants ‘fuelling the potentiality of the imminent third wave,’ the Maharashtra government has decided to impose stricter restrictions.
In a statement, the state government said that the Delta Plus variant has become a variant of concern (VOC) because of its characteristics including increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cell, and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response. Hence all administrative units, will be placed under a minimum of level 3 restrictions, irrespective of weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy, it added.
Under level 3 restrictions, all shops and stores will be allowed to function only till 4 pm. Malls, theatres, and multiplexes will remain closed. Restaurants will be allowed to operate at 50 percent seating capacity till 4 pm and post 4 pm, only takeaway and parcel services will be allowed.
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray tweeted the ‘levels of restrictions for safe Maharashtra’.
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