The Karnataka government has withdrawn the night curfew, which had been in effect in the state since April 2021. The decision was announced in an order released by the government on Friday, 5 November.
The curfew was in place from 10 pm to 5 am every day. The night curfew was put into force in April 2021, along with other lockdown restrictions, when the fierce second wave of COVID-19 infections hit Karnataka.
The order dated 5 November issued by P Ravi Kumar, Chief Secretary and Chairman of the state Executive Committee, says that the decision to withdraw night curfew in the state will come into force with immediate effect.
The order also said that horse racing is permitted to resume in the state, with strict adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department. However, 'the number of racing patrons attending horse racing shall be strictly as per the seating capacity of the venue and only fully vaccinated people with COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed entry into such premises,' the order reads.
The Karnataka government had imposed night curfew in April this year as part of the efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 situation in the state. A government notification on this had said that all shops and shopping malls, except those offering essential services, would close at 9 pm. However, as the second wave of COVID-19 abated, the state government opted for a phase-by-phase ‘unlocking’, while the night curfew was in place throughout. It was initially in place from 9 pm to 6 am, but this was eventually reduced, from 10 pm to 5 am.
Karnataka has been seeing a low number of COVID-19 cases lately. On Thursday, 4 November, the state reported 261 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths. With this, the total number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 29,89,275, and the death toll reached 38,095. Bengaluru Urban district accounted for 157 new cases and one death.
(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)