New Delhi: With Covid-19 cases on the rise in Maharashtra amid the spread of the Omicron variant, the government on Friday banned the assembly of more than five persons in public places between 9 pm and 6 am.


The Uddhav Thackeray-led government also capped the number of people allowed in wedding events and religious programmes as well as in gyms and movie halls.


Gyms, spas, hotels, theatres and cinema halls will be allowed to run at 50 per cent capacity while sports events will be allowed to have 25 per cent occupancy, the guidelines, which will come into effect from midnight, said.



"For other social, political, religious events, the number of attendees should not be more than 100 in enclosed spaces. For outdoor events, this number should not be more than 250 or 25 per cent of the capacity of the space whichever is less," the guidelines further said.


On Thursday, the government said churches could permit devotees only uptil 50 per cent of their capacity for the midnight mass on December 24-25.


New Rules For Mumbai Residents Arriving From Dubai


Earlier in the day, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation issued new guidelines for international travellers arriving from Dubai in Mumbai.


According to the new SOP, Mumbai residents arriving from Dubai will have to compulsorily undergo seven-day home quarantine followed by an RT-PCR test on Day 7. 


International passengers who reside in other parts of Maharashtra will not be allowed to take public transport and vehicles will be arranged for them.


Omicron Cases In Maharashtra, Mumbai


On Friday, Maharashtra recorded 20 Omicron cases, taking the state's tally to 108. As many as 54 of 108 patients have been already discharged, PTI reported.


READ | Maharashtra Issues New Rules For Mumbai Residents Arriving From Dubai


Eleven new cases were reported from Mumbai, six from Pune, two from Satara and one from Ahmednagar. Mumbai has recorded 46 Omicron cases so far.


In India, 358 cases of Omicron variant have been detected so far in 17 states and Union Territories. Of them, 114 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data.