Fact Check: Has Maharashtra government announced lockdown till Jan 31?
Social media users claim that the Maharashtra government has imposed new restrictions to control the spread of Omicron in the state.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 23 Dec 2021 4:43 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Social media users claim that the Maharashtra government has imposed new restrictions to control the spread of Omicron in the state.
"CM Uddhav Thackeray Ji's order has come out. The timing for Vyapari, shopkeepers is from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Shopkeeper trader and the customer are required to wear masks, the police have been exempted, if caught without a mask, the challan also explodes on you. May night curfew will continue from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am. Section144 is applicable from 15th December 2021 till 31st January 2022 (sic)" reads the post.
Click here to view the post.
NewsMeter also received a similar post on WhatsApp for the fact check.
Fact Check:
The claim is false.
NewsMeter looked for local news reports and found an article by Hindustan Times headlined 'Shopkeepers express shock over state's new penalty order.'
According to November 29 report, shopkeepers in Maharashtra will be fined 10,000 rupees if customers 'don't wear masks or violate Covid rules.' The guideline bought in the wake of the Omicron variant has faced flak from traders associations.
We also found a tweet on the official page of ANI posted on 18 December 2021.
"Avoid crowding, follow Covid guidelines. Strict action will be taken against offenders. People allowed up to 50% capacity in closed spaces; in open spaces, people allowed up to 25% capacity of space. Prior permission required for a gathering of more than 1000 people: BMC" read the tweet.
Another report by India Today and Hindustan Times said section 144 has been imposed in Mumbai from December 16 to 31.
But the team did not find any report about section 144 being imposed till January 31, 2022.
"The notification restricts the access to shops and other establishments in the city and all public transport to only fully vaccinated persons. It also restricts attendance for any programme to 50℅ of the capacity of the ground or closed premises concerned. It also provides that any event can be organized and attended by fully vaccinated persons only," the report said.
Hence, the claim is false. Though the Maharashtra government has issued new COVID-19 guidelines, the claim that shops can run only between 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and section 144 has been imposed till January 31, 2022, is false.
