Hyderabad: In order to prevent further spread of Covid-19, several state governments have imposed night curfew across the state from 10 pm to 5 am to restrict New Year eve celebrations.
However, all essential services and movements would be allowed during the curfew hours.
The circular issued by the government said that congregations in public places, including hotels, restaurants, clubs, parks, convention centres, and Kalyan Mandap to welcome the New Year and similar other revelries to be prohibited.
At first, Maharashtra Government announced night curfew between 11 pm to 6 am in the state in all municipal corporations from December 22, 2020, to January 5, 2021.
However, Bowing before public sentiments, the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday permitted New Year celebrations by tweaking certain rules.
BMC Commissioner I.S. Chahal said citizens can continue the New Year eve celebrations provided they do it indoors after 11 p.m. in view of the Covid-19 night curfew (11 p.m.-6 a.m.) in force till January 5.
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Don’t Stop The Party, Mumbai - Just Take It Indoors After 11:00!
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) December 31, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Restaurants are allowed to home deliver food in the city post 11:00pm.
COVID-prevention norms will have to be followed to ensure Mumbai rings in the new year with safety.#MyBMCUpdates #NaToCorona#StayHome
">Don’t Stop The Party, Mumbai - Just Take It Indoors After 11:00!
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) December 31, 2020
Restaurants are allowed to home deliver food in the city post 11:00pm.
COVID-prevention norms will have to be followed to ensure Mumbai rings in the new year with safety.#MyBMCUpdates #NaToCorona#StayHomeDon’t Stop The Party, Mumbai - Just Take It Indoors After 11:00!
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) December 31, 2020
Restaurants are allowed to home deliver food in the city post 11:00pm.
COVID-prevention norms will have to be followed to ensure Mumbai rings in the new year with safety.#MyBMCUpdates #NaToCorona#StayHome
"Don't stop the party, Mumbai - Just take it indoors after 11.00 p.m!" said the BMC in a tweet.
States who have imposed night curfew
- Maharashtra: Maharashtra Government imposed night curfew between 11 pm to 6 am in the state in all municipal corporations from December 22, 2020, to January 5, 2021.
- Odisha: In order to prevent further spread of Covid-19, the Odisha government has imposed night curfew across the state from 10 pm on Thursday to 5 am on Friday to restrict New Year eve celebrations. "The government of Odisha is imposing night curfew from 10 pm tonight to 5 am tomorrow morning across the state. The general public is requested to cooperate. All essential services and movements are allowed to continue during the curfew hours," Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena tweeted on Thursday.
- Delhi: As per an order signed by Chief Secretary of Delhi Vijay Dev, no new year celebratory events, congregations, and gatherings at public places will be permitted from 11 pm of December 31 to 6 am of January 1, and also from 11 pm of January 1 to 6 am of January 2. There will, however, be no restriction on the interstate and intrastate movement of persons and goods during the curfew period.
- Karnataka: With Karnataka withdrawing night curfew hours before enforcing it on Thursday up to January 2, Covid-induced guidelines to restrict New Year eve revelry on December 31 would be issued soon, state Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.
- Gujarat: The night curfew will be strictly enforced on December 31 after 9 pm. Seven DCPs, 14 assistant commissioners of police (ACP), 50 police inspectors, 100 police sub-inspectors and about 3500 police personnel have been deployed in the state to check.
- Kerala: The Kerala government issued an order prohibiting all public gatherings during the new year eve and directed that all celebrations in the state on Thursday should cease by 10.00 pm.
- Rajasthan: Rajasthan government imposed a night curfew between 8.00 pm on December 31, 2020, and 6.00 am on January 1, 2021, in all cities in the state having a population of over one lakh. As per the official notification issued by the government, markets in the areas where the night curfew is imposed will close at 7.00 pm.
- Tamil Nadu: The Tamil Nadu government has issued a ban on new year celebrations as a measure to prevent super spreader of Covid-19. In an order, chief secretary K Shanmugam said New Year celebrations in hotels, clubs and beach resorts shall not be permitted from December 31 night to January 1.
- Himachal Pradesh: The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet at its meeting, decided to continue with the night curfew in four districts -- Shimla, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi, till January 5, keeping in view the coronavirus pandemic. It also gave its approval to grant ex post facto permission to operationalise makeshift hospitals at Shimla, Nalagarh, Tanda and Nerchowk in the public interest.
- Manipur: The Manipur government has imposed a night curfew in the state from 6 pm to 4 am starting from the end of November till the end of this year.
- Punjab: With decline in coronavirus cases, the Punjab government on Wednesday decided to lift the night curfew from January 1 but advised the public to follow Covid-19 protocols. A spokesperson for the government said that restrictions regarding night curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in all cities and towns and closing down of hotels, restaurants and marriage palaces by 9.30 pm in the state would remain effective till December 31.
No official decision on night curfew in Goa yet
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday that the state government has not taken any official decision regarding night curfew. Sawant clarified, "The government has not taken any official decision to impose night curfew in the coastal state."
Meanwhile, the state health minister Vishwajit Rane earlier on the day said the health department has moved a file before the government to consider imposing night curfew on the lines of New Delhi and Karnataka to curb the outbreak of COVID-19.
