Covid-19 New Restrictions: Delhi Caps Number Of Guests At Wedding, Funerals; Check Guidelines Of Other States

Delhi has put a cap of 200 guests in marriage and other events at open-air venues and of 100 people for closed spaces in the city.

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The second wave of the Covid-19 seems to be getting worse with several states reporting biggest-ever daily spike since the outbreak last year. In view of the recent surge in coronavirus cases, several states have imposed new restrictions from capping the number of people in social events to night curfews.  "Six states--Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh continue to report a surge in the COVID daily new cases. 79.57 per cent of the new cases are reported from these 6 states," the health ministry informed on Saturday.

Check new restrictions states have imposed

Delhi: The Delhi government on Saturday put a cap of 200 guests in marriage and other events at open-air venues and of 100 people for closed spaces in the city, as per news agency PTI. In an order, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev informed that not more than 50 people will be allowed at funerals in the city. Dev, who is also the chairperson of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority’s (DDMA) state executive committee, said the order will be in force till April 30. He, however, said the status quo will be maintained regarding current permissible and prohibited activities in the city. Also Read: 3 Injured As Under-Construction Flyover On Gurugram-Dwarka Expressway Collapses

Stating the need for the cap on the number of people in marriage, banquet hall, other gatherings, and congregations, and in the funeral, the order said, “In closed spaces, a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity will be allowed, with a ceiling of 100 people, and in open spaces numbers will be allowed keeping the size of the ground/ space in the view, with a ceiling of 200 people subject to strict observance of wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitiser” .

Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority ordered that there will be no public celebrations in the national capital during upcoming festivals such as Holi and Navaratri."All authorities concerned will ensure that public celebrations and gatherings, congregations during upcoming festivals like Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Navaratri, etc shall not be allowed in public places/public grounds/public parks/markets/religious places etc in NCT of Delhi," Chief Secretary Vijay Dev said in the order.

The state government has also set up a number of teams to ensure that people adhere to its directions on Holi. District magistrates and police have created district-wise teams. Legal action would be taken against violators, he said.

"For Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Navratri, no gathering allowed at public places. We appeal to the public to follow COVID-19 directives, not drink and drive, and follow traffic rules. There should not be any traffic violations including no riding without a helmet on Holi," said Meenu Chaudhary, Joint Commissioner of Police (CP), Delhi Traffic.

Delhi recorded 1,558 coronavirus cases for the third day on a row on Saturday, while 10 more people, the highest in around two-and-a-half months, succumbed to the disease.

Maharashtra: The Maharashtra government has also extended Covid-19 restrictions in the state till April 15. Public places such as beaches and gardens will remain closed from 8 pm to 7 am effective from midnight of March 27. The violation will attract a penalty of ₹1000 per head.

"Not wearing of face mask will attract ₹500 fine while the same is ₹1,000 for public spitting," as per the order. It said that holding of social, cultural, political and religious gatherings in the state is being banned completely. Auditoriums or drama theatres should not allow their property to be used for such events, it said.

Also, note that social gatherings of all kinds are banned till April 30 across the state. Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Saturday announced that residential societies with five or more COVID-19 cases will be sealed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

"Night curfew in Mumbai may start from 10 pm or 11 pm on March 28. Hotels and pubs to remain closed during the night curfew. Only essential services will be allowed. BMC will seal the residential societies with five or more cases. We are seeing a higher positivity rate in high-rises than in slums and chawls," she added.

Gujarat: The Gujarat has made negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test report mandatory for those arriving from other states. "From April 1 onwards, people entering Gujarat from other states will have to mandatorily show a negative RT-PCR report (not older than 72 hours)," Deputy Chief Minister Nitinbhai Patel, Gujarat. The state has witnessed a surge in cases of coronavirus with Ahmedabad and Surat being the worst affected.