Which States, UTs Imposed Curbs On New Year’s Celebrations Amid Omicron?
Mumbai: New Year’s celebrations will be held amid curbs in many states/UTs this year, due to the Omicron variant. In Maharashtra, maximum of 50% occupancy is allowed at events, while Karnataka, Odisha and Tamil Nadu have banned all public celebrations.
Mumbai
Mumbai Police has banned New Year celebrations and gatherings in closed or open places, including hotels and restaurants.
Mumbai’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) S Chaitanya on Wednesday issued an order under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which will remain in force till January 7, 2022.
As per the order, the police have prohibited all New Year celebrations, events, gatherings and gatherings in any closed or open place including hotels, restaurants, banquet halls, bars, pubs, orchestras, resorts, clubs and terraces.
The order said that trains, buses and private cars can ply as per the extant guidelines and norms.
Mumbai police have also urged people to not visit beaches, open grounds, sea faces, promenades, gardens, parks and similar public places between 5 pm and 5 am till January 15.
Rajasthan
On the occasion of New Year’s Eve, restaurants in Rajasthan have been allowed to operate for an additional two and a half hours and during the night curfew for two hours (11 pm to 1 pm).
However, the state government had on Wednesday ordered officials to ensure strict implementation of night curfew and made full vaccination mandatory for entry of people in public places from January 31.
Manipur
The Manipur government on Wednesday reimposed the night curfew from 9 pm to 4 am, a few days before New Year’s Eve.
While essential services and medical emergencies are exempted from the night curfew, the state has banned concerts, thabal chongba (folk dance), festive feasts, large gatherings of people in enclosed areas or indoor halls.
“Violators will be penalised promptly under relevant rules. All District Magistrates are directed to enforce the curbs by invoking relevant provisions of law,” the order stated.
Bengaluru
The Karnataka government yesterday amended the timing of prohibitory orders within the limits of the Bengaluru City Commissionerate.
“Prohibitory orders within the limits of Bengaluru City Commissionerate shall remain in force with the revised timings, i.e. 6 PM on 31st December to 5 AM on 1st January 2022,” the directive said.
However, in-house gatherings will be allowed in residential complexes and private clubs without any special events.
“Hotels, malls, restaurants, clubs or any similar establishment shall not organize any special DJ, event or show in the city. However, they may continue with their regular business activities adhering to the COVID-19 protocols,” the order read.
Delhi
Security arrangements have been put in place in the national capital to implement the COVID-appropriate guidelines issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on New Year’s Eve.
The measures include ensuring strict adherence to night curfew, with police carrying out intensive patrolling in busy areas like Connaught Place, Chanakyapuri and Hauz Khas, which are known as party hubs.
Police said, “Station House Officers (SHOs) have been directed to approach all restaurants, hotels and clubs where the New Year is celebrated and ensure that the admission or entry is restricted in pursuance with Covid-19 regulations,” the police said.
With the DDMA declaring a ‘yellow alert’ under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the national capital, night curfew between 10 pm and 5 am and limited restaurant seating of 50 per cent, several eateries have bid adieu to the most big-ticket events – New Year’s Eve.
Puducherry
The Union Territory of Puducherry has also imposed a night curfew with immediate effect from 11 pm on December 31 to 5 am on January 31, 2022, except for Vaikuntha Ekadashi.
As per the official order, the Union Territory Administration has re-imposed the night curfew to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“Though the number of fresh positive cases has come down, there is the detection of the Variant of Concern (VoC) ‘Omicron’ in the samples from Puducherry. Hence, it is necessary to keep the vigil on COVID-19 transmission,” the official order said.
Kerala
The Kerala government issued an order earlier this week announcing relaxation for places of worship, in line with the earlier announced night curfew (10 pm to 5 am), which came into effect from Thursday. and will remain in force till January 2.
There are strict guidelines to prevent unwanted travel and those travelling will have to make a self-declaration stating the purpose of stepping out of their homes.
All shops and establishments, including clubs, bars, hotels, and restaurants have been ordered to close operations latest by 10 pm by the order is in effect.
Odisha
The Odisha government has directed officials to take strict action against those violating the ban on New Year celebrations and night curfew.
Random checking will be done at picnic spots, malls, shopping complexes, hotels, clubs, restaurants, parks, convention halls and marriage halls to check for violations of COVID-appropriate behaviour.
“In case of any violation of Covid-19 protocols, the heavy penalty will be imposed, which will be decided by the local authorities,” an official notification stated.
The new guidelines will come into force from 5 am on January 1 till 5 am on February 1, as per which even political gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 100 persons.
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