Now, full vax must for all public transport, gatherings, services

The Maharashtra government on Saturday issued new rules making full vaccination—14 days since the second dose—mandatory to board any mode of public transport, not just trains, and for entry into most public places such as malls, shops, gatherings, ticketed or non-tickets events and any establishment where the public has the right to services. It is already mandatory for the employees of these establishments to be fully vaccinated.

- Bhavika Jain

The government has also stressed on adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour and decided on penalties for drivers and conductors of public transport and office management in case any person is found violating norms such as wearing of masks. The individual flouting the rule will be fined too. The full vaccine mandate was earlier restricted to train travel and to some public places such as malls and certain government offices.

Senior officials said the new restrictions have been added to push people to get fully vaccinated. Nearly 70% of the eligible population has been covered with the first dose and 40% is fully vaccinated. There are nearly 97 lakh people, though, who are due for their second dose and are yet to take it.