mumbai the rapid spread of covid19 finally forced the uddhav thackeray government to announce lockdownlike restrictions across the state from 8pm on monday on weekends a complete lockdown will be imposeda state government notification issued late sunday said all shops except essential services would remain shut till the end of the month leaving people only monday to buy nonessential goods this month restaurants will be allowed to operate only takeaway and home delivery services during the day hours all theatres cinema halls malls gardens and playgrounds will remain closed while night curfew will be imposed everyday from 8pm to 7am gatherings of five or more persons will be prohibited during the daytime7am to 8pm on weekdaysthe notification gave an exemption to essential services like hospitals diagnostic centres pharmacies and other health services grocery vegetable and food stores newspaper production and distribution trains public buses taxis and autorickshaws all public services by local authorities goods transportation and agriculturerelated services and ecommerce banking insurance telecom and mediclaim offices will also be exempted no religious social cultural or political functions of any kind will be allowed the state decided it would conduct board exams but all schools colleges and private tuition classes would remain closed vaccinations will continue all days of the week including weekends private vehicles including private buses can ply as usual from 7am to 8pm from monday to friday and in emergencies or on essential service duty from 8pm to 7am on weekdays and 8pm on friday to 7am on monday the government said essential services should ensure social distancing between customers on their premises malls restaurants and bars will remain closed but takeaway service will remain in operation minister nawab malik said after a cabinet meeting government and semigovernment offices will run with 50 capacity while private offices will have to go for work from homepublic transport will operate at 50 capacity autos and taxis will be allowed two passengers there will be no standing passengers allowed on buses and local trainsgymnasiums salons and beauty parlours will remain shut film shooting will be allowed if there is no crowdingonly restaurants and bars inside hotels and which are an integral part of the hotel will remain open on weekends only home delivery services will be allowed between 7am and 8pm no person may visit any restaurant or barin districts where elections are to be held permission may be granted by the district collector for any political gathering subject to certain conditionsconstruction sites which have facility for worker accommodation will be allowed to operateon sunday cm thackeray summoned a special cabinet meeting to discuss measures to curb the surge in covid19 cases the urgency to impose restrictions was hastened after the state reported over 57000 new cases the highest since the pandemic came to the state last year after the cabinet meeting deputy chief minister ajit pawar said the entire state had opposed a complete lockdown but health experts cautioned us about the increasing number of covid caseswhile issuing