News Analysis India

Tag: Night curfew

  • Gujarat: 100 booked for violating COVID norms; cops prepare to enforce night curfew

    By PTI

    ANAND: An FIR was lodged against a crowd of 100 people, including a deputy sarpanch and her supporters, for allegedly flouting COVID-19 norms by taking part in a victory procession in Kasor village in Gujarat’s Anand district on Saturday, police said.

    A road show with some 100 people in attendance was taken out in support of Baluben Parmar after she was elected the deputy sarpanch of Kasor panchayat, a Sojitra police station official said.

    Most of the attendees, many of who danced to music along the way, did not have masks on and social distancing norms were also flouted, he said.

    Parmar and others have been charged under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (unlawful, negligent act likely to spread disease dangerous to life) of the Indian Penal Code, and provisions of Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act, the informed.

    Gujarat recorded 23,150 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, its second highest single-day surge since the outbreak of the pandemic, increasing the tally of confirmed cases to 10,45,938, a state health department official said.

    The addition to the tally was higher than the 21,225 recorded a day earlier but lower than the record 24,485 witnessed on Thursday, he pointed out.

    For the fourth consecutive day, Gujarat reported over a dozen COVID-19 fatalities, he said.

    Fifteen deaths, comprising six in Ahmedabad, four in Surat, three in Bhavnagar and one each in Rajkot and Navsari, took the toll to 10,230, he added.

    So far, 9.05,833 people have been discharged post recovery, including 10,103 during the day, leaving the state with 1,29,875 active cases.

    Ahmedabad led with 8,332 cases, followed by Vadodara with 3,709 cases, Surat 2,488, and Rajkot 2,021, among other districts, he said.

    The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Gujarat reached 9.62 crore after 1.88 lakh people got jabs on Saturday, a government release said.

    Adjoining Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu reported 36 new cases and 37 more recoveries, taking the Union Territory’s tally to 11,096, including four deaths, recovery count to 10,942 and active caseload to 150, a local official said.

    Gujarat’s COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 10,45,938, new cases 23,150, death toll 10,230, discharged 9,05,833, active cases 1,29,875, people tested so far – figures not released.

    Night curfew is all set to begin in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday in 17 towns of Gujarat amid the COVID-19 outbreak and police have been asked to implement it with “officer-oriented policing with human approach”, a top official said.

    The night curfew, which will be in force from 10pm to 6am, was announced in these towns for the first time by the state government recently, while such curbs are already in place in 10 major cities of the state.

    “Police officers, including SPs and Range IGs, have been informed through video conferencing about strict implementation of night curfew in 17 additional towns. They have been asked to enforce it with officer-oriented policing with human approach, involving local police, home guards and GRDs (gram rakshak dal),” State Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia told reporters.

    Bhatia said loud speakers have been used and meetings are being held to spread awareness among people about “self implementation” of the night curfew, before police take up its enforcement.

    “Police have been taking measures for strict implementation of COVID-19 guidelines, with a fine of Rs 1,000 collected from 97,903 people for not wearing face masks in the last one week. During this period, 3,830 FIRs were registered and 3,206 people arrested for violating social distancing norms. A total of 381 vehicles were seized for night curfew violation,” the DGP said.

    He also urged people to compulsorily register online for marriage functions during the ongoing season as well as adhere to the attendance cap of 150 people at such events.

    The Gujarat government had on Friday imposed night curfew in 17 more towns with high positivity rates while extending its implementation in 10 cities till January 29.

    At present, night curfew is in force in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Gandhinagar, Anand and Nadiad.

    The towns that have been added to this list include Surendranagar, Dhrangradhra, Morbi, Wankaner, Dhoraji, Gondal, Jetpur, Kalawad, Godhra, Vijalpore (Navsari), Navsari, Bilimora, Vyarav, Vyapar, Bharuch and Ankleshwar.

  • Goa’s COVID positivity rate crosses 26%, government mulling night curfew

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Goa on Monday reported 631 new COVID-19 cases with the positivity rate jumping by 16 per cent to 26.43 per cent, officials said.

    On Sunday, Goa had recorded a COVID-19 positivity rate at 10.7 per cent and 388 cases.

    With the new infections, the overall caseload in Goa mounted to 1,82,201 on Monday.

    Goa has so far reported five cases of the Omicron variant, including four on Monday.

    The positivity rate is the percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that are actually positive.

    As cases surged, the state government has decided to close schools and colleges till January 26.

    After chairing a meeting of Task Force earlier in the day, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters that the government would also impose night curfew in the state.

    The COVID-19 death toll remained unchanged at 3,523 in Goa as no fresh fatality was reported on Monday, officials added.

    The number of recoveries rose to 1,76,438 after 62 people were discharged during the day, leaving Goa with 2,240 active cases, an official said.

    “With 2,387 new tests, the total number of tests conducted so far in Goa went up to 16,37,091,” he added.

    Earlier in the day, Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said 66 of over 2,000 people on board the Cordelia cruise ship, which came to Goa from Mumbai, have tested positive for coronavirus.

    Goa’s COVID-19 figures: Positive cases 1,82,201, new cases 631, death toll 3,523, discharged 176438, active cases 2240, samples tested till date 16,37,091.

    Four more cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus were reported in Goa, taking the tally of such cases to five so far, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Monday.

    He said one of the four patients didn’t have any foreign travel history, which indicates “indigenous” spread.

    This needs to be examined in detail, Rane said.

    “Few samples that were sent to NIV Pune for genome sequencing have confirmed 4 more cases of Omicron in the state of Goa. 1 patient is from within the state of Goa, with no travel history, indicating indigenous spread which needs to be further examined,”Rane tweeted.

    The first case of the Omicron variant was reported in the coastal state on December 28 when an eight-year-old boy from the United Kingdom (UK) had tested positive.

    On Sunday, Goa reported 388 new COVID-19 cases, taking the infection tally in the state to 1,81,570, while one death raised the toll to 3,523, as per official data.

    Goa had reported a 10.7 per cent COVID-19 positivity rate the day before.

  • No science behind night curfews in India, says WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan

    By Online Desk

    There is no science behind night curfews when it comes to tackling the spread of Covid variants, WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan has stressed.

    In a TV media interview, she said that countries like India must formulate science-based policies for curbing the spread of the virus.

    “Things like night curfew, there is no science behind it. One has to take evidence-based measures. There is a whole list of public health measures,” she told CNBC-TV18.

    “Entertainment venues are places where these viruses spread the most. It’s natural to bring in some restrictions there,” Swaminathan added. She said that Indians need to be prepared, but not panic.

    “What we can expect to see in India is a surge of Omicron cases, I think it is just beginning now in some of the cities and is going to infect a lot of people,” the WHO scientist said.

    ALSO READ | 141 Mumbai residents without travel history test positive for Omicron

    With 309 new cases of highly transmissible Covid variant Omicron detected in the last 24 hours, India’s Omicron tally on Friday rose to 1,270 cases. Of total, 374 have been discharged.

    Among the 23 states and Union Territories that have reported the Omicron infection so far, Maharashtra tops the list with 450 cases of this variant. Of them, 125 patients have been discharged as per the Health Ministry data.

    Delhi has the second-highest cases of Omicron infection at 320. However, 57 of them have been discharged from the hospital.

    In a separate tweet on Friday, Swaminathan said: “Hospitalisations are also rising, mostly in unvaccinated people. Though #Omicron may cause less severe disease, a small percent of a huge number is still very large & can overwhelm health systems”.

    “Whatever the #covidvariant, #Omicron or #delta – vaccination protects against hospitalisation and death,” she added.

    (With agency inputs)

  • Omicron cases surges in India; yellow alert for Delhi

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: Mumbai on Tuesday recorded 70 percent cases of Omicron variant, higher than yesterday, while Delhi witnessed 50 percent increase.

    Mumbai has reported over 1000 cases for the first time in months, with 1,377 cases reported on Tuesday. Yesterday, the city had recorded 803 cases. Meanwhile, 338 people have recovered from the disease on Tuesday. The number of fresh cases in Maharashtra stood at 2,172.

    Delhi reported 496 fresh cases as against the 331 cases reported yesterday. The national capital reported one death. According to reports, a yellow alert has been sounded in Delhi and some restrictions imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in view of rising number of Covid cases in the city.

    Punjab has banned entry of not fully vaccinated people from January 15 in public places.

    Delhi, Karnataka, UP, MP, Assam, Haryana and Kerala, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu have imposed night curfews so far.

    In Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu on Tuesday instructed all the District Magistrates (DMs) to create containment zones and impose various restrictions on basis of population and population density in the view of an increase in COVID-19 cases and the danger of its Omicron variant.

    As per a release from the state government, he has instructed all the District Magistrates to take special steps for the protection and safety of people against COVID-19 and its recently-discovered Omicron variant.

    He has instructed the district magistrates to follow the preventive measures and restrictions in accordance with the instructions issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. He said that keeping a constant watch on the cases of COVID-19 in all the districts.

    Sandhu has directed all the DMs to ensure the continuation of containment strategy, testing, contact tracing, isolation, surveillance, adequate clinical management, vaccination and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

    “He has instructed to take steps like night curfew, ban on overcrowding, reducing the number of marriages and funerals, limiting the number in offices, industries and public transport in case of increase in Covid cases. Instructions were given that strict compliance of Containment Zone, Buffer Zone etc. should be ensured,” added the release.

    The Chief Secretary has also stressed sending samples for door to door case search and genome sequencing at the earliest, along with conducting COVID testing as per the guidelines of ICMR and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Instructions have been given to conduct contact tracing of people and testing as per the guidelines of ICMR. He added that sampling and monitoring of travellers from abroad should be done on priority.

    Sandhu has given instructions to keep the district-level control rooms and their numbers in active mode. Along with this, instructions have also been given to ensure 100 per cent coverage of COVID-19 vaccination along with the availability of an adequate number of isolation beds, oxygen beds and ICU beds.

    The Chief Secretary has also directed to conduct continuous campaigns for public awareness about the wearing of masks and COVID behaviour among the general public. 

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Omicron cases surges in India; night curfews in 8 states, 3 UTs

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: Mumbai on Tuesday recorded 70 percent cases of Omicron variant, higher than yesterday, while Delhi witnessed 50 percent increase.

    Mumbai has reported over 1000 cases for the first time in months, with 1,377 cases reported on Tuesday. Yesterday, the city had recorded 803 cases. Meanwhile, 338 people have recovered from the disease on Tuesday. The number of fresh cases in Maharashtra stood at 2,172.

    Delhi reported 496 fresh cases as against the 331 cases reported yesterday. The national capital reported one death. According to reports, a yellow alert has been sounded in Delhi and some restrictions imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in view of rising number of Covid cases in the city.

    Punjab has banned entry of not fully vaccinated people from January 15 in public places.

    Delhi, Karnataka, UP, MP, Assam, Haryana and Kerala, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu have imposed night curfews so far.

    In Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu on Tuesday instructed all the District Magistrates (DMs) to create containment zones and impose various restrictions on basis of population and population density in the view of an increase in COVID-19 cases and the danger of its Omicron variant.

    As per a release from the state government, he has instructed all the District Magistrates to take special steps for the protection and safety of people against COVID-19 and its recently-discovered Omicron variant.

    He has instructed the district magistrates to follow the preventive measures and restrictions in accordance with the instructions issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. He said that keeping a constant watch on the cases of COVID-19 in all the districts.

    Sandhu has directed all the DMs to ensure the continuation of containment strategy, testing, contact tracing, isolation, surveillance, adequate clinical management, vaccination and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

    “He has instructed to take steps like night curfew, ban on overcrowding, reducing the number of marriages and funerals, limiting the number in offices, industries and public transport in case of increase in Covid cases. Instructions were given that strict compliance of Containment Zone, Buffer Zone etc. should be ensured,” added the release.

    The Chief Secretary has also stressed sending samples for door to door case search and genome sequencing at the earliest, along with conducting COVID testing as per the guidelines of ICMR and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Instructions have been given to conduct contact tracing of people and testing as per the guidelines of ICMR. He added that sampling and monitoring of travellers from abroad should be done on priority.

    Sandhu has given instructions to keep the district-level control rooms and their numbers in active mode. Along with this, instructions have also been given to ensure 100 per cent coverage of COVID-19 vaccination along with the availability of an adequate number of isolation beds, oxygen beds and ICU beds.

    The Chief Secretary has also directed to conduct continuous campaigns for public awareness about the wearing of masks and COVID behaviour among the general public. 

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Yellow alert sounded in Delhi, restrictions to be imposed: Kejriwal

    We are 10 times more prepared than earlier to deal with the rise in Covid cases, says Chief Minister.

  • Various states impose night curfew amid rising Omicron cases

    By Online Desk

    With the Centre giving various states the freedom to take a call on the manner in which night curfew is introduced in the wake of Omicron variant threat, Kerala Chief Minister has on Monday announced night curfew from December 30 to January 2. 

    In view of the upcoming New Year and other festivals, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has imposed curbs from 10 pm to 5 am.  As the state recorded 57 Oimcron cases today, he has asked everyone to stay indoors by the latest 10 pm and avoid all sorts of unwanted travel. All shops and establishments including clubs, bars, hotels and restaurants have to down their shutters latest by 10 pm on all the four days.

    The curbs would be applicable to beaches also, Vijayan said in a statement, following a high-level meeting where the decisions were taken.

    Similarly, Haryana has also imposed a night curfew from Saturday. Uttarakhand also curbs from Monday night in view of the threat posed by the Omicron variant of Covid-19. 

    However, the Odisha government on Monday said there is no need to impose restrictions such as night curfew and lockdown across the state. But, the night curfew is in force in all urban areas of the state from 10 pm to 5 am.

    Delhi on Monday recorded 331 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day rise since June 9, and one died while the positivity rate mounted to 0.68 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.

    The death toll due to the coronavirus infection in Delhi rose to 25,106. On Sunday, Delhi recorded 290 cases with a positivity rate of 0.55 per cent and one fatality, according to officials figures.

    On Monday, it jumped to 331 cases with a positivity rate of 0.68 per cent, according to the latest health bulletin. This rise is the highest since June 9 when 337 cases were logged with a positivity rate of 0.46 per cent, while 36 deaths were also recorded on that day. It is also to be noted that, the national capital is also under night curfew from Monday. 

    Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has asked the Centre to speed up the Covid-19 vaccination in poll-bound states to ensure that all the voters are fully vaccinated.

    Earlier in the day, the Centre issued a fresh advisory to all States and UTs to deal with the pandemic situation.

    In the advisory, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said States and Union Territories may consider imposing need-based, local curbs and restrictions, to control the crowd during the festive season.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • Uncontrolled violation of norms: Covid numbers rising in Bengal post Durga Puja rush

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA:  Uncontrolled footfall of revellers violating Covid safety protocol as part of Durga Puja festivities has left the West Bengal government in a cloud of concern with Covid positive cases on the rise during the past few days.

    On October 16, 443 new Covid cases were recorded in past 24 hours but the number has gone up to 974 on Saturday, highest in past three months.

    A total of 43,159 people underwent Covid-19 tests in past 24 hours. The positivity rate too rose from 1.6 per cent in August to 2.4 per cent this month.

    The night curfew from 11pm to 5am was lifted for 10 days during the festive season and the state government is planning to re-impose the restriction from Thursday.

    “Among the new Covid-19 positive cases, 449 persons are from Kolkata, where the festive season witnessed largescale gathering of pandal hoppers. Among the new positive cases, 257 persons are asymptomatic. The crowd that hit the city streets every day during Durga Puja triggered a concern about what would happen once the festivity will be over,’’ said an official of the state health department.

    According to health experts, the impact of lifting of Covid protocol for festive days is yet to completely reflect in newly identified positive cases. 

    “Before the puja days, shopping spree began in Kolkata with thousands of buyers from Kolkata and its outskirts turning up at shopping malls and market places. The buyers were ignorant about using masks and sanitisers and social distancing. It appears, the fresh covid cases are fall out of these violations,’’ said a doctor of a Kolkata hospital.

    The state health department is planning to identify pockets with heavy Covid positive cases and declare the pockets as micro containment zones to arrest further spread of the disease.

    “Kolkata administration and district magistrates of seven other districts have been directed to identify the areas which are needed to be identified as micro containment zones,’’ said another official.

    Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people on Sunday to follow the safety protocols rigourously to curb the spread of the viral disease.

    She urged everyone to wear their facemasks properly, covering the nose, to avert being infected with the disease.

    “Please wear the mask properly. The number of Covid cases registered a spike after Durga Puja. Hence, you must follow the Covid safety precautions, do not keep the mask hanging from your chin,” Banerjee said at a meeting.

    She urged everyone to follow the COVID-19 safety protocols during the upcoming Kali Puja, Diwali, Chhat Puja and Jagaddhatri Puja festivities.

    The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo also warned people about a rise in the number of malaria cases in the state, especially in north Bengal.

    “Along with Covid cases, there is a sudden spurt in Malaria cases in certain areas of north Bengal. I would ask the district administration to clean up every area,” she said.

    Authorities to identify Covid hotspots

    The state health department is planning to identify pockets with heavy Covid positive cases and declare the pockets as micro containment zones to arrest the further spread of the disease.

    “Kolkata administration and district magistrates of seven districts have been directed to identify areas needed to be identified as micro containment zones,’’ said another official.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • COVID-19: Gujarat government extends night curfew in eight cities till September 25

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government on Tuesday extended the night curfew, which is in place in eight cities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, till September 25. The curfew is currently in place from 11 pm to 6 am in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Gandhinagar.

    After reviewing the present situation, the state government has decided to extend the night curfew till September 25, a government release stated.

    All other restrictions imposed in the last order issued on July 29 will remain in place till September 25, including permitting eateries to function till 10 pm and capping of the attendance at public functions to 400.

    The previous order had also allowed Ganesh Chaturthi festivities in public places with the height of idols kept at a maximum of nine feet. Gujarat had reported only 12 new COVID-19 cases and zero casualties on Monday.

  • Assam govt announces new COVID SOP, imposes night curfew

    By ANI

    GUWAHATI: To contain the spread of COVID-19 infections across the state, the Assam government on Wednesday in its new guidelines announced that a night curfew will be imposed across all districts from 9 pm to 5 am.

    In case test positivity of COVID-19 in any area reaches more than 10 cases in the last seven days, jurisdictional District Magistrate will notify such areas as total containment zones and ensure necessary containment measures for COVID, the Assam government said in its new directives that will be effective from today until further orders.

    According to the Standard operating procedure (SoP), all state government offices, workplaces, private offices, and establishments will function normally but not beyond 8 pm.

    “All business, commercial establishments, the takeaway of food items from restaurants, Dhabas, and other eateries. The opening of Sale counters, showrooms, etc. of cold storage and warehouses. Shops dealing with groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, animal fodder will remain open till 8 pm,” the guidelines read.

    The dine-in restaurants, Dhabas, and other eateries will be allowed to function till 8 pm with 50 per cent seating capacity.

    Auto rickshaws and taxis shall operate for passengers with 100 per cent seating capacity and observance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour for passengers and compulsory wearing of masks.

    The guidelines further said that pillion riding is allowed with at least a single vaccinated person and compulsory wearing of a mask.

    The government has also allowed intra-district and inter-district transport with a 100 per cent seating capacity for passengers having at least a single dose of vaccine.

    “The physical classes for the postgraduate, graduate, higher secondary final year shall be allowed for students having at host single-dose vaccine. However, students of class 12 who are below 18 years of age and if not vaccinated, should not be allowed to attend the physical classes,” it said.

    It further said that the schools are allowed to open for the first three days only for the vaccination of students, teachers and staff. The physical classes will start from September 6, 2021.

    Meeting or gathering at any open or closed spaces is allowed up to 50 single-dose vaccinated persons with prior intimation to local police. However, will all prior permission of jurisdictional DC for maximum gathering up to 200 persons (at least single vaccinated) may he allowed both for public and private functions which will also be applicable for closed spaces subject to a ceiling of 50 per cent of the hall capacity, it reads.

    The government order further said that the funeral or last rites are allowed with not more than 50 per cent.

    The religious places are allowed to open with up to 40 single vaccinated people per hour while the cinema or theatre hall will remain closed till further notice.

    Assam on Tuesday reported five new deaths due to COVID-19, while 570 more people tested positive pushing the caseload to 5,89,426.