Which states and UTs have imposed night curfews amid Omicron spread?

Amid growing concerns over rising cases of COVID-19 and its fast-spreading new Omicron variant, several states and UTs have imposed night curfews and similar restrictions to tackle the situation. Night curfews have been imposed in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Haryana and eight cities of Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar and Junagadh) from 11 pm to 5 am.

The Yogi Adityanath government has decided to reimpose the night curfew in Uttar Pradesh from Saturday night amid a surge in COVID-19 cases and growing fears about the new Omicron variant. According to an official statement, the curfew will be in place from 11 pm to 5 am. An upper limit of 200 guests will be in force for weddings and the district administration will have to be duly informed.

Madhya Pradesh: Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan had on Friday said that a night curfew of 11 pm to 5 am would be enforced effective immediately. The state hasn't yet recorded an Omicron Covid case.

Maharashtra: With Maharashtra crossing the 100-mark in Omicron cases, the state has imposed fresh restrictions and has night curbs in place. The gathering of more than 5 persons in public places across the state has been prohibited from 9 pm-6 am.

Gujarat: The night curfew has been extended in eight cities of Gujarat by two hours over Omicron concerns. Here night curfew will be in force from 11 pm to 5 am. Earlier, it was from 1 am to 5 am. The new time will be implemented from December 25 in the cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Gandhinagar. Gujarat has reported 98 new cases and 3 deaths today.

Haryana: The Haryana govt has also come up with its own restrictions. The gathering of more than 200 people in public places and other programs is not allowed, and movement of people to be restricted from 11 pm to 5 am, Haryana Chief Minister's Office said unvaccinated people cannot enter public places from January 1 in Haryana.

Delhi: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority said that religious places will remain open on Christmas and New Year's Eve for celebrations and prayers subject to strict compliance with COVID-19-appropriate behaviour. It said no separate permission is required for these activities.

Restaurants and bars will continue to operate with up to 50 per cent of the seating capacity. Marriage-related gatherings are permitted with a maximum of 200 people in attendance. The DDMA also directed the district magistrates (DMs) to identify potential COVID-19 super spreader areas ahead of Christmas and New Year.

Goa: "Although no case of Omicron infection has been detected in Goa so far, all necessary steps need to be taken during the festive season. A few states have imposed a night curfew in view of the virus variant. But we need to make sure that we don't have to undertake such measures," Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said addressing reporters.

Further, he stated that the tourism industry should ensure adherence to COVID-19 norms, like social distancing and sanitisation, to prevent the spread of the virus.

Karnataka: CM Basavaraj Bommai has said that the New Year celebrations at public places will be held in a ‘restricted and controlled’ manner, with 50% seating capacity allowed in restaurants and clubs, and for people who have got completed two doses of the vaccine. Staff working in restaurants and clubs should be vaccinated and should have a negative RT-PCR test result.

Special events or celebrations involving performances by DJ will not be allowed. The restrictions will be in effect from December 30 to January 2. Christmas prayers will be allowed only inside the Church premises, and no prayers in public places will be allowed, a government order added.

Puducherry: The union territory is under lockdown till January 2, 2022. The night curfew would be in force from 11 PM to 5 AM every day. However, the night curfew has been relaxed completely on the eve of Christmas (December 24) and on Christmas day (Dec 25). The release said that the night curfew would be relaxed on December 30, 31 and on January 1 up to 2 AM in view of the new year. The curfew will be in force on these days from 2 AM to 5 AM.

Telangana: The state's Rajanna Sircilla district voluntarily imposed a 10-day lockdown after one of the residents in the town (a returnee from Gulf nation) tested positive for Omicron. The lockdown has been imposed in Gudem village in the Sircilla district.

Tamil Nadu: Amid the Omicron scare, the Tamil Nadu government has imposed a ban on New Year celebrations on all beaches in Chennai. The government said that 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.

Odisha: The state govt has issued an order, which will remain in force from December 25, 2021 to January 2, 2022. As per the order, Christmas celebrations will be limited to the churches with the participation of a maximum of 50 persons. Everyone will have to strictly follow Covid protocols. Parties like Zero Night celebration, Welcome to New Year in hotels, clubs, restaurants, parks, convention halls, Kalyan mandaps, etc., have been completely banned across the state, the government said in the order. The government has allowed funeral rites following due Covid-19 protocols.