The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Thursday imposed a night curfew in the national capital on New Year’s eve because of the new coronavirus strain spread.
The curfew will be in place from 11pm of 31st Dec to 6am of 2nd Jan.
On Wednesday, officials told news agency PTI that Police and fire unit deployment has been beefed up, traffic regulation planned, and restaurants and bars asked to host not more than 50 percent of their capacity.
“Not more than five persons to assemble at public place, no new year celebration events, no gatherings at public places permitted from 11pm of 31st Dec to 6am of 1st Jan and 11pm of 1 Jan to 6am of 2nd Jan,” said to DDMA’s order.
“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 setback to the appreciable gains made in the suppression of chain on transmission of Covid-19 cases in Delhi,” the order issued by the DDMA read.
However, there will be no restriction on the interstate and intrastate movement of persons and goods during the curfew period. “There shall be no restriction on the interstate and intrastate movement of persons and goods during the curfew period,” it added.
By imposing this curfew, Delhi joins the curfew-club with Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
Officials said they have also taken several measures to ensure women’s safety, and added though breath analyser test will not be used to detect drunken-driving out of precaution against coronavirus, delinquent drivers will be liable for legal action.
In order to ensure orderly celebrations, police presence will be strengthened in markets, around malls, five-star hotels, restaurants, pubs, and bars.
Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava said that this year, public gatherings will be subjected to coronavirus protocol. “There is a restriction on the number of people who can collect at a point. So these restrictions will be there and the wearing of masks will be mandatory,” he told PTI.
“We will be making adequate arrangements at places where people normally like to collect. But one thing would be that all such collection would be subject to COVID-19 protocols,” he added.
As many as 677 new COVID-19 cases and 21 deaths were reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 6,24,795, including 5,838 active cases and 6,08,434. A total of 10,523 deaths have been reported here so far.
(Inputs from ANI and PTI)
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