As a 11-year-old girl from Belagavi in Karnataka died due to covid and the Omicron Variant of the coronavirus is in spike in the state, the state, alike Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana may go for ‘night curfew’ to curb growing of the virus. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday has expressed concern over the hit of ‘Third Wave’ and said there is no alternate than reintroduction of COVID-19 protocols.
Karnataka may clamp night curfew and other COVID-19 preventive measures from the first week of January.
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana announced night curfews and other restrictions from last Friday. Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal had already announced restrictions.
Uttarakhand said it may impose a night curfew and other restrictions. The measures are set to mute Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Maharashtra announced a 9 pm to 6 am curfew and banned any assembly of five or more people in the state in public places following a sharp rise in cases.
The number of people at weddings and social, political or religious functions has been capped at 100 in closed spaces and 250 or 25% of the capacity at open-air venues, whichever is less. Cinema halls, restaurants, gyms, spas and auditoriums can function at 50% capacity. Spectators will be limited to 25% of the total capacity for sports, events and competitions. Maharashtra recorded 20 new Omicron cases on Friday.
Uttar Pradesh announced a night curfew across the state from 11 pm to 5 am starting December 25 and limited the number of guests at weddings and other public functions to 200. Masks have been made mandatory in shops and on the street. People arriving from other states or overseas should be traced and tested, the state said.
Haryana announced a curfew from 11 pm to 5 am and restricted gatherings to 50% of capacity with a maximum of 200 people indoors and 300 in open spaces. Restaurants, bars, spas, gyms and cinemas can function with people following social distancing norms.
Delhi recorded 180 new Covid cases on Friday compared with 69 a week ago. Mumbai’s cases more than doubled in three days to 683 on Friday from 327 on Tuesday.
Madhya Pradesh announced a six-hour curfew on Thursday and asked people to follow Covid protocols.
