New Delhi: The Bihar government has imposed night curfew from 10 pm to 5am from January 6 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
As per the government guidelines, gyms, parks, malls, religious places, cinema halls and swimming pools will be closed till further orders. Schools till Class 8 will remain closed till January 21.
"Pre-school and class 1 to 8 to remain close, online classes will continue. Educational institutions of class 9-12 will function with 50% capacity. Restrictions to remain in effect from January 6-21," the guidelines stated.
The decision was taken at a crisis management meeting on Tuesday evening chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Bihar reported 344 fresh Covid-19 cases on Monday, taking its active caseload to 1,385. Patna district accounts for 698 active cases, more than half of the state's figure, PTI reported. However, the state has not reported any Covid death for about a week.
On Monday, 14 persons, including three security personnel and five catering staff of a five-star hotel of Patna, tested Covid-19 positive during the 'Janata Darbar' programme of Nitish Kumar.
Bihar has so far reported only one Omicron case -- a 26-year-old resident of Patna who travelled to Delhi about a fortnight ago.
Recently, Bihar cabinet minister Jibesh Kumar said that imposing lockdown was not possible every time and people should "live with corona".
"Covid-19 is changing its nature. First corona came into the world and then Delta variant and now Omicron. No one knows when this will stop. Hence, lockdown cannot be imposed every time. We have to adjust to the current circumstances and live in accordance with the situation," IANS quoted Jibesh Kumar as saying.
"Lockdown severely impacts the earning of common people in the country. The economy of the Center and states cannot be allowed to disrupt due to corona," Kumar said.