Maharashtra to lift curbs on shop timings in districts with low positivity rate

Reeling under heavy economic losses, Pune traders threaten they would keep shops open till 7 p.m. from August 4

In a measure of relief to Maharashtra’s retailers and shop owners reeling under heavy economic losses due to the pandemic, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said the hitherto curtailed shop timings would be extended till 8 p.m. in districts with a low case positivity rate. Mr. Thackeray, who was visiting rain-battered Sangli district in western Maharashtra, said an official order would be issued extending the timings from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Chief Minister’s statement comes a day after the Pune Chamber of Commerce, stating that repeated lockdowns had left traders and shopkeepers in dire economic straits, had threatened that it would keep all shops open till 7 p.m. from August 4 onwards in defiance of pandemic regulations.