New Delhi: Amid the scare of a new strain of Coronavirus, ahead of New Year celebrations, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Thursday imposed a night curfew in the national capital to curb the spread of the COVID-19.
DDMA said in its order that the curfew will be set up on December 31 and January 1 between 11 pm to 6 am, adding that not more than five individuals will be permitted to amass at a public spot and no new year festivities, events, or social occasions will be allowed post 11 pm.
DDMA circulated an order which states, “A detailed assessment of the situation in Delhi has been made and considering the threat posed by the mutant UK strain of Covid-19 virus and after observing the local incidents of the pandemic in GNCT, Delhi, it is apprehended that gatherings, congregations and public celebrations of New Year pose a considerable threat of the spread of the virus and may cause a setback to the appreciable gains made in the suppression of chain on the transmission of Covid-19 cases in Delhi.”
However, the authority has clarified that no interstate and intrastate movement of persons and goods will be restricted during the curfew period.
Earlier, officials told news agency PTI that police and fire unit deployment has been beefed up, and traffic regulation planned. The restaurants and bars have been ordered to not host more than 50 percent of their capacity during New Year celebrations. “Police presence will be strengthened in markets, around malls, five-star hotels, restaurants, pubs, and bars,” they added. Officials have also taken several measures to ensure women’s safety.
Meanwhile, SN Shrivastava, Delhi Police Commissioner said, “We will be making necessary arrangements at places where people normally like to collect. But one thing would be that all such collections would be subject to Covid-19 protocols.”
Delhi on Wednesday enrolled 677 new COVID-19 cases and 21 deaths which pushed the general count to more than 624,000. The Delhi government has ordered the setting up of isolation facilities at four private medical clinics for travelers who landed from the UK from November 25 till December 24 and have tried positive for the variant.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Government also issued an order prohibiting all public gatherings as part of New Year celebrations. All celebrations on New Year’s Eve (December 31) should cease by 10.