The rise in Omicron cases has led to fresh restrictions across the country. Several states, which experienced a devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, have imposed a slew of restrictions to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant. The total number of Omicron cases has now reached 2,630, with Maharashtra having the highest number of cases at 797.

Here is a list of states that have imposed COVID-19 restrictions:

Maharashtra

Due to a surge in Omicron cases in the financial capital, Mumbai Police has banned the public from visiting beaches, sea faces, open grounds, promenades, gardens, parks, or other public areas between 5 pm and 5 am daily until January 15.

Also read: Omicron scare: Mumbai Mayor warns of lockdown if daily COVID-19 cases go over 20,000

The maximum number of people who can attend a wedding is restricted to 50 while only 20 individuals will be permitted during the last rites.

Also read: COVID-19: Rising Omicron cases; BMC revises protocol for sealed buildings

West Bengal

The West Bengal government has tightened restrictions in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the state. From January 3, the state government has ordered that all educational institutions be closed.

Only essential services will be permitted between 10 pm and 5 am. Malls and markets can stay open until 10 pm but only at 50 percent capacity. Local trains will run at half the capacity while long-distance trains and metro trains, on the other hand, will run on a reduced schedule with half the capacity.

All government and private offices will be operating at half the capacity and all administrative meetings will be held virtually.

Also read: Omicron scare: Maharashtra health minister urges Centre to allow COVID-19 vaccination in 12-15 age group

Delhi

After the yellow alert, the Delhi government has imposed a weekend lockdown. Schools and colleges are already shut and all government employees have been asked to work from home.

The night curfew begins at 10 pm.

The weekend curfew will not allow movement of non-essential items. State government and municipal officials not involved in essential services will have to work from home, the order said. During the weekend, private offices will have to operate with 50 percent capacity.

Also read: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tests COVID positive with 'mild symptoms

Haryana

All schools, colleges, and other educational institutions have been closed for now. Only the fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter public transportation, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and grain markets. Malls and markets will shut by 5 pm in districts with high daily cases such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Panchkula, Sonipat and Ambala.

In these five districts, movie theatres, swimming pools, sports complexes, entertainment parks, and other places of entertainment too will remain shut.

Also read: Food companies stocking up daily essentials amid fresh COVID-19 curbs

Gujarat

Gujarat has imposed night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am in eight cities: Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar.

Also read: Rising Omicron cases can impact growth by 0.3% in March quarter: Report

Kerala

The Kerala government issued a slew of directions to contain Omicron spread, including restricting the number of attendees to various cultural and social functions. The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has decided to restrict the number of people who can attend marriages, funerals, political, social and cultural events in a closed room to 75.

Bihar

The Bihar government order night curfew and other restrictions which will come into effect from Thursday. According to a notification, the curfew hours will be from 10 PM to 5 AM and, along with other curbs, shall remain in force till January 21.

Schools shall remain closed for up to Class VIII though online teaching will be allowed. Offices, both government and private, shall be permitted to function with not more than 50 percent attendance.

Other curbs include closure of gyms, cinema halls, swimming pools and stadiums and not more than 50 percent occupancy for restaurants.

Karnataka

Karnataka has banned all public rallies, religious activity, yatras for 2 weeks. Night curfew to continue for another 2 weeks. Weekend curfew to begin from Friday 10 PM to Monday 5 AM.

Only 50 percent capacity permitted at public places including public transport, cinema halls, pubs, hotel, restaurant. Only 100 people can gather at ondoor marriage hall; for outdoor, it is 200 people. Only 50 people were allowed at temples and religious places.

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government has stressed strict compliance with new guidelines, including the closure of all schools up to Class 10 till January 16. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the officials to declare holidays in all schools up to Class 10 till January 16.

Students of classes 11-12 should be called to school only for vaccination purposes and given a holiday on the vaccination day and the next day. Their classes should be conducted online mode only, the official said.

Night curfew has been extended by two hours from 10 pm to 6 am from Thursday and closure of schools up to Class 10 till Makar Sankranti among others.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin ordered fresh curbs which includes state-wide night curfew between 10 pm and 5 am with effect from January 6. A shutdown would be enforced on Sunday (January 9) and only 50 percent occupancy shall be allowed in buses, suburban trains, and Metrorail, the government said.

All government and privately organised harvest festival 'Pongal' and cultural events are postponed and entertainment and amusement parks would be shutdown, an official release here said. Public would not be allowed in all places of worship on three days -Fridays, Saturday and Sunday- a week. The present bar for social, cultural and political congregations would continue to be in place.

(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)

First Published:Jan 4, 2022 6:16 PM IST