Mumbai has banned large gatherings, announced night curfew.
New Delhi:
Three metros — Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai — and several states including Punjab and Kerala have announced restrictions including big gatherings and night curfew for New Year’s eve in view of the coronavirus outbreak. The Centre has advised restrictions to keep large gatherings to a minimum as the highly infectious UK strain of the virus surfaced in the country. Till yesterday, 20 people, all of whom recently returned from the UK, were found to have contracted the new bug. There will be no restrictions in Bengal and Chandigarh.
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In Delhi, night curfew has been declared from 11 pm and 6 am. “No New Year “celebratory events, congregations and gatherings at public places shall be permitted from 11 pm of December 31 to 6 am of January 1 and 11 pm of January 1 and 6 am of January 2,” the Delhi Disaster Management Authority has declared. Traffic movement, however, will not be restricted.
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Night curfew with similar hours has been announced in Mumbai also. Large gatherings have been banned, but there will be no restriction on visiting friends, relatives and public places in groups of four persons. Use of face masks and social distancing will remain mandatory, the Mumbai Police said. The police said they will use drones to keep watch.
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In Bengaluru, prohibitory orders banning large gatherings will be imposed in place from noon today, the city police commissioner has said.
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Chennai , too, has barred large gatherings, especially on beaches and roads. Marina, Elliots and other beaches have been shut. Hotels and bars will have to shut by 10 pm. Hotels have been asked to verify credentials of visitors. Puducherry has permitted celebration on beaches with regular rules.
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With Chennai registering one case with the new mutant virus, the state government will deploy 10,000 police personnel to ensure that restrictions are not violated. Besides, 945 people tested positive for Covid in the state on Wednesday, taking the number of active cases to 8615.
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In Bengal, the Chief secretary has called for peaceful, disciplined celebrations, saying extremes like night curfews “not perceived to be require”. “‘No need for extreme steps but urge caution over new year celebrations… Best to maintain a careful middle path,” the Chief Secretary said.
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In Chandigarh too, there will be no special restrictions. “Review meeting was held; No Night curfew in Chandigarh on the New Year Eve as there is a decline in Covid positive cases @DgpChdPolice to ensure the existing covid protocols, opening &closing of hotels, restaurants etc should be strictly enforced & the Parties be over in time,” Lieutenant Governor VP Badnore has tweeted.
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Night curfew will be in place in Punjab. The Amarinder Singh government has decided to lift it from January 1, and advised the public to follow Covid appropriate behaviour.Night curfew is in place today from 10 pm to 5 am in all cities and towns and hotels, restaurants, marriage palaces will be closed by 9.30 pm.The ceiling of 100 people and 250 people in all the indoor and outdoor social gatherings in the state will be applicable only till tonight.
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On Monday, the Union Home Ministry had asked states to take proper measures to check any possible spike in infection during celebrations. “The number of Covid 19 active cases is declining steadily in the country for the last three-and-half months. Keeping in view the fresh surge of Covid-19 cases in Europe and Americas, there is still a need for maintaining comprehensive precaution and strict surveillance within our country,” a top official has written to the states.
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Over the last 24 hours, the country logged 21,822 coronavirus infections, taking the total to 1.02 crore, data from the Union Health Ministry showed this morning. The number of fresh infections is six per cent higher than Wednesday, when the country registered 20,549 fresh cases. The number of fatalities rose by 299, taking the total to 1,48,738.
