Night curfew, cap on gatherings: UP, Maharashtra, other states announce curbs amid Omicron scare

India has reported 360 Omicron cases so far. As the Centre had already pointed out that the Omicron variant is at least “thrice as transmissible” as the Delta variant, Christmas and New Year celebrations have the capacity to morph into super spreader events. .

Taking note of this threat, several states — especially those dealing with a higher caseload — have decided to mount curbs on people’s movement over the festive season. Some states have decided to strengthen surveillance instead of mounting curfews or lockdowns.

The Centre has also asked states to activate war rooms and gave them the green light to impose restrictions on crowds and large gatherings and marriages and offices.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

In view of the recent upsurge in cases, the UT Administration has decided to conduct a Rapid Antigen Test of all passengers travelling to J&K by road. The test will be conducted at Lakhanpur, the entry point to J&K from Punjab, and at least 33 per cent of incoming travellers will have to undergo the RT-PCR test, according to an order issued on Thursday by Kathua Deputy Commissioner Rahul Yadav.

Uttar Pradesh

Amid rising Omicron cases in the country, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to impose night curfew in the state. The restrictions will come into effect from December 25. The curfew will be in place from 11 pm to 5 am in all 75 districts.

Additionally, the government said that only 200 people will be allowed to attend marriages and social functions with necessary Covid protocols.

Delhi

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has stated that no event or gathering to celebrate Christmas or New Year will be allowed in the city.

DDMA said that as per its order dated December 15, all social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural and religious events are prohibited and no gatherings can be held. “All District Magistrates and DCPs shall ensure that no cultural event/gatherings/congregations take place for celebrating Christmas or New Year in NCT of Delhi,” it stated.

MADHYA PRADESH

Amid growing concern over the new coronavirus variant Omicron, the Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday imposed a night curfew in the state from 11 pm to 5 am as a precautionary measure and advised people to strictly follow COVID-19 protocols. The curfew comes into force from Thursday night.

Madhya Pradesh has so far not reported any case of Omicron. “In view of the rapid spread of the Omicron virus in the world, it is the right time for all to remain alert on the issue. We have also decided to impose a night curfew from tonight (Thursday) in the entire state from 11 pm to 5 am and will take some more measures if required to deal with the situation,” Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

KARNATAKA

The state government has announced restrictions on public celebrations of the New Year in the wake of rising cases of Omicron in the state. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has announced that restrictions would be in place from December 30 to January 2. “Mass gatherings at any place across the state for New Year celebrations have been banned,” Bommai said. “Seating capacity at pubs and restaurants has been restricted to 50 per cent with no special events. The staff at pubs and restaurants should be fully vaccinated.”

MAHARASHTRA

The state on Thursday issued guidelines restricting large-scale Christmas celebrations. The guidelines mandate simple celebrations during Christmas following COVID-19 protocols and urge citizens to avoid crowding, both inside and outside religious venues. The guidelines specify that churches can permit devotees only up to 50 per cent of their capacity for the midnight mass on December 24-25 with facilities for sanitisation made mandatory.

Face masks have to be provided and physical distancing should be followed, the guidelines state. They stipulate fewer choir singers with adequate distancing and separate mics while no stalls and shops will be allowed outside churches.

The guidelines clearly stated that all the violators will be punished under sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Gujarat

Gujarat, which has so far reported 30 Omicron cases, imposed a night curfew till December 31 and has allowed gyms and restaurants to operate with 75 per cent capacity.

Ahmedabad city police issued a notification under CrPC section 144 allowing a 35-minute window for bursting of firecrackers in the city on the occasion of Christmas and New Year celebrations. The permitted timings are 11:55 pm of December 24 to 12:30 am of December 25, and 11:55 pm of December 31 to 12:30 am of January 1, 2022.

Night curfew timings in eight cities of Gujarat – Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar and Junagadh – are from 1 am to 5 am, effective until December 31.

Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government on December 14 imposed a ban on New Year celebrations on all beaches in Chennai, saying no entry and gatherings will be allowed there on December 31 and January 1. The government also said the ban on social, cultural and political events will continue till December 31.

Haryana

The State Government on Wednesday issued an order in this regard and directed all deputy commissioners to constitute teams to ensure that only those who receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are allowed entry at places of public gatherings.

According to the order, only fully vaccinated people will be allowed entry at places like restaurants, bars, hotels, grain markets, departmental stores, liquor, and wine shops, malls, shopping complexes, cinema halls, religious places, ration shops, petrol and CNG stations, local markets, private and government sector banks, parks, gyms, bus stand, railway station, among other places of public gatherings from January 1, 2022, onwards.