<span style="color: #222222;">Further easing coronavirus-induced lockdown in Maharashtra, the state government today decided to allow hotels and other entities providing accommodation services like lodges and guest houses outside containment zones to operate from July 8 at 33 percent of their capacity. The hotels in shopping malls, however, will not be allowed to reopen.<br />''<br />''The government announced the decision through a notification.<br />''<br />''The permission has been granted on conditions of these entities adhering to social distancing norms and other protocols.<br />''<br />''The government's move comes a day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray interacted with various associations of hotels and lodges, and assured them of taking a decision soon on reopening after finalising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).<br />''<br />''The government said that these entities, if they are being used as quarantine facilities, will continue to function as such unless the local district/municipal administrations decide otherwise.<br />''<br />''Similarly, some part/whole of the balance unused capacity (67 per cent) can also be used for quarantine facility by district/municipal administration.<br />''<br />''While allowing the hotels to reopen partially, the government has asked hoteliers to ensure only asymptomatic guests are allowed.<br />''<br />''The government instructed that the guests should be allowed only if they are using face cover/mask, which has to be worn all the time inside the hotels.<br />''<br />''The government said the guests are to compulsorily use the Aarogya Setu app and are encouraged to minimise use of housekeeping services.<br />''<br />''The hoteliers have been asked to ensure proper crowd management in the hotels including elevators and parking lots, mandatory thermal screening at entrance and reception tables, which should have protective glasses.<br />''<br />''The government has instructed the hoteliers to make available for free hand sanitisers, preferable pedal-operated dispensers, at the reception, guest rooms and public spaces for customers.<br />''<br />''The hotels must adopt contact-less processes like QR code, online forms, digital payments like e-wallet, among others, for both check-in and check-out.<br />''<br />''The notification said the temperature setting of all air-conditioning devices should be in the range of 24 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius, while the relative humidity should be in the range of 40 per cent to 70 per cent in line with the CPWDs guidelines.<br />''<br />''It said the seating arrangements in the hotels must ensure observation of social distancing norms, while gaming arcades, children's play areas, swimming pools or gymnasium shall remain closed.<br />''<br />''It further said that the room should be left unoccupied for at least 24 hours after a client stay is over.</span>