As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread across the country, several Indian states have taken to imposing a night curfew and several bans. Here are the details. By Anushka Goel
The number of daily COVID-19 cases is rising steadily across India, and several of them are being detected with the Omicron variant of the virus. While earlier, the Indian government had decided to defer the resumption of regular international flights to stop the virus from entering India, now, several states have taken to imposing a night curfew and bans in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading.
Now, several states and union territories across the country, including the capital city, Delhi, have introduced COVID-19 curbs in a move to tackle the spread of the virus, reports Mint.
States impost night curfew and curbs to tackle COVID-19
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While the Omicron variant is said to be milder, with symptoms similar to a cold or cough, it spreads faster, infecting a lot many people at once as compared to the Delta variant of the virus. Thus, internationally and in India, travel rules have been modified in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading, with a tighter watch on international and intra-national travel.
Several Indian states have imposed these curbs as well, reports India Today, including Karnataka, where the first Omicron case in India was detected, Maharashtra, the capital city of Delhi, and more. Check out the full list below:
Karnataka
The Karnataka government has imposed a night curfew from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am starting December 28, for the next 10 days. This is to put a curb on festive outings and night-outs and reduce the risk of infection due to COVID-19.
Further, the Karnataka Government on Wednesday, January 5, announced new rules for passengers arriving in the state from Goa, reports Hindustan Times. Under the “Special surveillance measures for arrivals from Goa state,” passengers will have to produce a negative RT-PCR report of a test taken not more than 72 hours before departure. This applies to passengers arriving not just by flight, but by all means of transport, including trains, buses, and personal vehicles as well, along with those boarding connecting flights from the southern state. Frequent flyers between the two states will have to get tested every 15 days and produce a negative report before flying. The only exemptions in the current rule are constitutional functionaries, health care professionals, and children aged below five, the report adds. In case of emergency, swabs of the passengers will be taken upon their arrival in Karnataka.
Delhi
The capital city has imposed a night curfew from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am starting Monday, December 27. Further, according to a report in India.com, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has extended banned social and cultural gatherings till December 31 midnight, extending its COVID-19 curbs, and has limited restaurants’ seating capacity to 50 per cent.
Haryana
On Friday, December 24, Haryana announced night curfew in the state from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am starting December 25. Along with this, restrictions have also been imposed on the number of people at indoor and outdoor events, placed at 200 and 300 respectively. The rules are in place till January 5 for now.
Maharashtra
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Considering the possible crowding during Christmas and New Year, Maharashtra, which is the worst-hit by this new variant, has imposed a curfew banning gatherings of more than five people between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am, reports India Today. Gyms, spas, theatres, cinema halls and hotels are allowed to function at 50 per cent capacity. According to Mint, Mumbai has banned New Year gatherings in the city.
Assam
The state imposed a night curfew from 11:30 pm to 6:00 am in the state to prevent the spread of the virus’ new variant, even though there’s no confirmed Omicron case there.
Gujarat
According to India Today, eight cities in Gujarat, namely Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Gandhinagar, have a curfew from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am. Earlier, the curfew started at 1:00 am, which was elongated starting Christmas, i.e. December 25.
Madhya Pradesh
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Starting Thursday, December 23, Madhya Pradesh imposed a night curfew in the state from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am as a precautionary step to keep a check on COVID-19’s spread.
Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a night curfew starting December 25, from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am. The state has also implemented section 144 of the CrPC in Noida and Lucknow till December 31.
Kerala
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The Kerala government has announced a night curfew in the state from December 30 to January 2, reports The News Minute. The curfew will be in place from 10:00 pm till 5:00 am, and New Year celebrations will not take place across the state, the report states. This has been done to try curb the rise in Omicron cases in the country.
Uttarakhand
The state has announced a night curfew from 11:00 pm till 5:00 am, which will stay in place until further notice, a report in Hindustan Times suggests. Essential services such as health, and vehicles carrying health personnel, ambulance, postal services have however been exempted from the curfew. Further, private vehicles will be allowed to commute for emergencies, as long as COVID-19 and safety protocols are strictly followed.
West Bengal
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According to a report in Economic Times, the West Bengal government has imposed several rules and regulations to curb the spread of COVID-19. These include operating restaurants at a 50 per cent capacity, with them being allowed to remain open only till 10:00 pm, Metros running at a 50 per cent capacity, closure of schools, colleges, universities, spas, salons, beauty parlours, swimming pools, zoos, and entertainment parks, and malls and market complexes functioning at a 50 per cent capacity. What’s more, even government offices in the state will be open on a 50 per cent capacity.
What’s more, West Bengal has also limited its flights between the state, Delhi and Mumbai to just thrice a week, i.e. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, reports India.com.
Goa
In view of rising COVID-19 cases in this popular tourist destination, the government has decided to impose a night curfew from 11:00 pm till 6:00 am every day, reports Mint. The government has also decided to shut schools and colleges till January 26, 2022.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Union Territory’s capital, Port Blair, will require all passengers aged above two to show a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test report not older than 48 hours before departure, reports United News of India. This rule comes into effect January 5, 2022 and requires all passengers, including those fully or partially vaccinated, to undergo the COVID-19 tests before they travel.
All tourist spots as well as parks, playgrounds, gyms, yoga institutes in Andaman and Nicobar will remain closed to the public, as per a new directive by the region’s government. Congregations for social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, or cultural occasions are prohibited as well. Night curfew has been imposed in all districts from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am, and no movement is allowed unless permitted by District Magistrate. Public transportation and buses will operate at 50 percent capacity, according to a report by India Today.
Himachal Pradesh
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Seeing the rise in COVID-19 cases, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to impose a night curfew from 10:00 pm till 5:00 am, reports The Hindu. The state has also decided to shut sports complexes, cinema halls, stadiums, swimming pools, multiplexes, gyms and langars in the state, and allow only 50% attendance at gatherings in marriage and banquet halls, the official spokesperson stated.
Bihar
According to Hindustan Times, the state has decided to impose a night curfew from 10:00 pm till 6:00 am starting January 6, 2022, till January 21, 2022. The state has also shut parks, gyms, swimming pools and malls, in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. What’s more, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also cancelled his ongoing Samaj Sudhar Yatra which was set to conclude on January 15, along with the weekly Janta Darbar, the report adds.
Meghalaya
According to The Shillong Times, the Meghalaya government has decided to re-impose some of its COVID-19 curbs to control the spread of the virus. The curbs include all travellers requiring to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken not more than 72 hours prior to departure, irrespective of their vaccination status. There are also restrictions on the movement of private vehicles in Shillong, along with vehicular traffic being based on the odd-even structure. Night curfew has also been imposed in Shillong and other districts starting at 10:00 pm, the report adds.
Jammu And Kashmir
Airport officials in Jammu have ramped up COVID-19 testing of passengers, especially those who are unvaccinated. This includes Vaishno Devi pilgrims who have arrived in the region, according to a report by The New Indian Express. Addressing concerns around the spread of the new variant, Sanjeev Garg, Jammu Airport Director said “Travellers are allowed to leave the airport only if they’re fully vaccinated, otherwise, everyone, including the Vaishno Devi pilgrims have to get tested.”
In addition to this, 50 percent RT-PCR and 50 percent rapid antigen tests are being conducted at the airport, with about 250 tests done every day. Travellers who test positive are sent to the DRDO hospital. As per central guidelines, vaccination reports are being checked as well and those without it are required to go through both RT-PCR and rapid antigen test.
Odisha
The municipal corporation of Bhubaneswar has announced that all air travellers, including the fully vaccinated and those in possession of a negative RT-PCR test, will need to undergo COVID-19 tests at the airport. Testing facilities will be set up at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), and natives of Bhubaneswar will need to isolate themselves at home until their result is communicated to them. Those who test positive will need to follow COVID-19 protocols of the state. Travellers who are in transit will be exempt from this rule, according to a report by News18.
Due to new COVID updates, we are constantly updating this story. Kindly check official government websites before planning a trip to these destinations.
