Uddhav Thackeray Suggests Post-Diwali Timeline For Opening Religious Places Of Worship, Schools; Cautions Against Spread Of COVID-19 In Winter

Temples & other places of worship in Maharashtra, closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, will re-open soon, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on November 8. He said SOPs to minimise transmission of the virus could be released after Diwali, which falls on November 14. Thackeray also confirmed that schools were set to resume (for Classes 9 to 12) after Diwali, with safety protocols already in place for this. Classes 9 to 12 of schools in Maharashtra will reopen from November 23, school education minister Varsha Gaikwad said on November 7. The Chief Minister, who has been urged to sanction the re-opening of places of worship in the state, said he had held out because of the risk to senior citizens who visit them. The Chief Minister said that although the SOPs would be released later, the wearing of face masks while visiting places of worship in the state would be compulsory. He laid particular stress on that and warned people that those found without face masks would be fined. The Chief Minister and a number of other leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, have all stressed on the need to minimise contact. Thackeray also pointed to Delhi, which has seen a worrying surge in cases over the past 10 days coinciding with an increase in air pollution, to appeal against the bursting of firecrackers this Diwali.