Restrictions to Curb Omicron: What Are the New SOPs in Different States?

Following the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry, states have issued curbs to contain the spread of Omicron.

Following the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry on 21 December, different states have imposed curbs to contain the spread of COVID-19, amid the rising cases of the Omicron variant.

Some states have issued night curfews while others have tightened their restrictions and monitoring.

What restriction are in place across different states? Here's all you need to know.

Uttar Pradesh

Section 144 has been imposed in the state from 1 December, which will stay in place till 31 December.

Night curfew from 11pm to 5 am with effect from 25 December.

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Delhi

On 29 December 2021, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has stated that COVID-related curbs under the 'yellow alert' will continue in the capital. The curbs include:

• Night curfew in the capital from 11pm to 5 am

• No offline schools and colleges

• Non-essential shops to remain open on alternate days (odd-even basis)

• Bars and restaurants are to operate with no more than 50 percent of their seating capacities

• Buses, metros, and other public transports to operate at 50 percent seating capacity

Maharashtra

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government announced on Sunday, 9 January, a slew of new curbs effective from Monday:

• Night curfew from 10 January between 11 pm and 5 am

• Schools and colleges will remain closed till 15 February

• Gyms to operate at 50 percent capacity, where masks are mandatory

• Beauty salons, hair cutting salons to be open at 50 percent capacity

• Sports complexes, swimming pools, spas, and wellness centres to remain shut

• Shopping malls, market complexes to function at 50 percent capacity and will be shut between 10 pm and 8 am

• Cinema halls with 50 percent capacity with night and morning shows banned

• Only fully-vaccinated people allowed to use public services

• Maximum number of attendees in marriage (in open venue or enclosed) shall be no more than 50.

• Maximum number of people during the last rites shall be no more than 20.

• Government and private offices are advised to work from home.

• Public places like gardens, beaches, parks, promenades, etc. can not be visited from 5 pm to 5 am till 15 January.

Karnataka

• Karnataka Government imposed night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am with effect from 27 December for the next 10 days.

• Hotels, restaurants, and bars can run at no more than 50 percent of their total capacity.

• Public events or gatherings will not be allowed to celebrate New Year's Eve anywhere in Bengaluru. However, people who have prior bookings will be allowed to visit pubs, hotels, and clubs.

• All gatherings, meeting conferences, including marriages, from 28 December can have a maximum of 300 people.

• Strict patrolling in districts that are adjacent to Maharashtra.

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Telangana

All kinds of mass gatherings, rallies, and public meets have been restricted in the state.

The management of educational institutes should ensure that COVID appropriate behaviours are followed and all the staff and students wear masks.

The state has mandated wearing of masks in public places and failing to do so will come with a penalty of Rs 1,000.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has imposed the following curbs:

• Dine-in services will operate at 50 percent capacity.

• All playschools and kindergartens will remain closed.

• No direct classes will be conducted for Classes 1-8, till 10 January.

• Classes 9-12 along with other colleges and IITs will run in compliance with SOPs.

• No more than 100 attendees are allowed in marriages.

• A maximum of 50 people are allowed in after-death rituals.

Chandigarh

Restaurants, marriage parties, and dine-in places will operate at halved capacities.

All activities at lake Sukhna will remain closed except for:

• 5 am to 9 am (Monday to Saturday)

• 6 pm to 8 pm (Monday to Saturday)

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West Bengal

Stricter curbs have been imposed in West Bengal, amid rise of Omicron cases:

• All educational institutes shall remain closed from 3 January.

• Markets, malls, and cinema halls can operate at 50 percent capacity till 10 pm.

• Local trains can operate at 50 percent capacity till 7 pm.

• Metros and longer trains to operate at scheduled hours at 50 percent capacity.

• A maximum number of 50 people can attend marriages and religious gatherings.

• No more than 20 people can attend burial or last rites.

• Private and government offices can run at 50 percent capacity while meetings are to be conducted online.

Uttarakhand

Dehradun administration mandated either full vaccination certificate or negative COVID-19 certificate (not older than 72 hours) for entry into the district.

Goa

The Goa government has announced that casinos, cinema halls, auditoriums, river cruises, water parks, and entertainment parks will operate at maximum of 50 percent capacity.

Only fully-vaccinated persons or those possessing COVID negative certificate will be allowed to enter the state.

Manipur

Night curfew to be imposed in Manipur from 9 pm to 4 am till 31 January 2022, with exemption for essential services and medical emergencies. Further, music concerts, Thabal Chongba, celebratory feasts, and large gathering of people in enclosed areas will be restricted.

Gujarat

The following eight cities of Gujarat will go into a night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am:

• Ahmedabad

• Surat

• Vadodara

• Rajkot

• Jamnagar

• Bhavnagar

• Junagadh

• Gandhinagar

Haryana

Haryana has shut down all educational institutes and has mendated complete vaccination for entering hotels, restaurants, public transport, malls, etc.

Due to surge in COVID cases, markets and malls will operate till 5pm while cinema halls, entertainment parks, swimming pools, etc. will remain closed in the following five districts:

• Ambala

• Sonipat

• Gurugram

• Panchkula

• Faridabad

Jammu and Kashmir

The Union Territory Administration has mandated that all passengers travelling to Jammu and Kashmir by road shall have to take a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

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Meghalaya

Meghalaya made it compulsory for anyone entering the state to register into the government website and download the Behavioural Change Management app, along with the Arogya Setu app.

Rajasthan

All schools (private and government) in Jaipur shall remain closed for Classes 1-8 from 3 January to 9 January.

Rajasthan Cabinet has decided to make COVID vaccination mandatory for entry into public places after 31 January.

Further, malls and other commercial establishments will remain open till 10 pm every day. State authorities have been asked to strictly enforce night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am.

Assam

Assam has imposed a night curfew from 11:30 pm to 6 am, with effect from 26 December until further orders. However, there will be no restrictions on 31 December.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh has also imposed night curfew from 11 pm till 5am as a “precautionary measure".

The state instructed its people to strictly adhere to COVID appropriate behaviours.

Kerala

Kerala government has announced a night curfew in the state from 30 December and will be in force from 10 pm to 5 am.

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(Inputs from Mint and Hindustan Times)