Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (MS)

Mumbai, May 23: Home delivery of liquor to the residents of the metro was allowed on Friday May 22 by The Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation (BMC) even as the number of infected persons rose to 27,068 with a highest ever one-day cases of 1,751.

The death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic rose to 909 in the city with 27 more deaths. Meanwhile, 7,080 people have recovered from the infection.

According to BMC home delivery of liquor is permitted but over the counter sales are still banned. Liquor was completely banned after the lockdown announcement in the city, which is the worst affected among the metros in the coutnry.

Iqbal Chahal, municipal commissioner said that the liquor outlets are allowed to deliver the sealed bottles to customers to their home address only. Maharashtra government has already permitted home delivery of liquor in red zones five days ago.

The order also says that defaulters of guidelines issued in the order will be dealt with strictly under relevant sections of Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897, section 188 of IPC and Disaster Management Act of 2005.

Though the liquor shops were given permission to open on May 5, the BMC had ordered their closure as the guidelines were not followed with regards to social distancing.