Karnataka has banned public New Year celebrations and mass gatherings in the wake of the threat of COVID-19 and Omicron variant. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of ministers, officials and experts convened by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday.
“Apart from celebrations, public gatherings, too, have been banned throughout the state,” Bommai said, adding that no mass gatherings would be allowed on Bengaluru’s M.G. Road and Brigade Road for new year celebrations. No new year parties will be allowed at restaurants and clubs. But they are allowed to function at 50 per cent capacity. Apartment complexes have also been banned from conducting any special events to celebrate the new year.
The chief minister added that two doses of vaccination is mandatory for entry to clubs and the staff have to undergo RT-PCR test.
These restrictions will be in place from December 30 to January 2, 2022.
Karnataka reported five more cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on Monday, taking the state tally to 19.
India has recorded 213 cases of the Omicron variant across 15 states and UTs so far out of which 90 people have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The Centre has asked states and union territories to "activate" war rooms, keep analysing even small trends and surges and keep taking strict and prompt containment action at district and local levels.
-with PTI inputs
