The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) imposed a nighttime curfew on the national capital on Thursday to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The restrictions have been imposed just before the New Year celebrations.
The curfew will be in effect on December 31 and January 1 between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., the DDMA said in its order, adding that no more than five people will be allowed to gather in a public place and not New Years celebrations, events or gatherings will be allowed after 11pm.
“A detailed assessment of the situation has been made in Delhi and considering the threat posed by the mutant strain of the Covid-19 virus in the UK and after observing local incidents of the pandemic at GNCT, Delhi, it is suspected that the meetings , Congregations and the Public New Year’s celebrations pose a significant threat to the spread of the virus and may cause a setback in the appreciable progress made in suppressing the chain of transmission of Covid-19 cases in Delhi, ”said the order issued by the DDMA. However, the authority said there will be no restrictions on the interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods during the curfew period.
Earlier, officials told the PTI news agency that the deployment of the police and fire department had been strengthened and that traffic regulation had been planned. Restaurants and bars have been ordered to hold no more than 50 percent of their capacity during New Year’s celebrations. “The police presence in markets, around malls, five-star hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars will be strengthened,” they added. Officials have also taken various measures to ensure the safety of the women.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava said on Wednesday that all public gatherings will be subject to Covid-19 protocols, adding that wearing masks will be mandatory. “We will make the necessary arrangements in the places where people normally like to collect. But it would be one thing that all those collections would be subject to the Covid-19 protocols, ”he said.
Read also: 677 new coronavirus cases in Delhi, 0.8% positivity rate
Delhi recorded 677 new coronavirus cases and 21 more deaths on Wednesday, bringing the overall count to more than 624,000. 84,680 tests were performed on Tuesday, including 44,221 RT-PCR tests and 40,459 rapid antigen tests, according to the bulletin issued by the health department. Amid UK Covid-19 variant concerns, the Delhi government has ordered the installation of isolation facilities at four private hospitals for passengers who traveled from the UK or transitioned through the UK on the 25th. from November to December 24 and tested positive for the variant.
(With contributions from the agency)
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