Only those who have received both doses of Covid vaccines will be allowed to enter malls in Mumbai and other cities of Maharashtra, the state government has decided. Speaking to the media after a cabinet meeting today, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the government will further relax the Covid restrictions from August 15.
"People with double doses can board local trains. The state government has given instructions to issue monthly and quarterly passes to people," he said.
The minister added that restaurants will be allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity till 10 pm. Shops too can stay open till 10 pm, he said.
India on Wednesday reported 38,353 fresh Covid cases, which is 36 per cent higher than 28,204 reported yesterday. The country also reported 497 deaths, taking the cumulative death count to 4,29,179.
The daily positivity rate stands at 2.16 per cent, which has been less than 3 per cent for last 16 days.
Meanwhile, a study on mixing Covishield and Covaxin, the two main vaccines used in India's COVID-19 vaccination programme, has been given a go-ahead by the Drugs Controller General Of India (DCGI), say sources. This study and its clinical trials, sources add, will be conducted by Vellore's Christian Medical College.
