Night Curfews, Section 144: Here's List Of New Restrictions Imposed In Cities As Covid-19 Cases Surge

Night curfews and Section 144 have been reimposed in several cities months after unlocking began to resume normal activities.

(File Photo/ AFP)

Coronavirus: As the Covid cases in India continue to surge, states are heading towards taking strict measures to control the pandemic. Rajasthan government has now resorted towards announced to impose night curfew from 8 pm to 6 am in eight district headquarters including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Udaipur, Ajmer, Alwar, and Bhilwara. Also Read|"Coordinated Efforts Will Lead Faster Recovery From Coronavirus Pandemic": PM Modi At G20 Section 144 was imposed in all districts across the state from Saturday. The state government also increased the penalty imposed for not wearing masks to Rs 500 from Rs 200 earlier. "State Council of Ministers met to discuss measures to prevent coronavirus infection, including imposition of night curfew in eight of the most-affected cities (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Udaipur, Ajmer, Alwar and Bhilwara). Many important decisions were taken," Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted on Saturday. The opposition BJP in Rajasthan has asked the state government to focus on ensuring enough beds, ventilators and oxygen cylinders are available in hospitals for COVID-19 patients. The COVID-19 tally in Rajasthan now stands at 2,37,669 and the death toll at 2,130. The number of active cases in the state is 20,923, according to the Health Ministry. Apart from Rajasthan, several states have resorted to imposing night curfew:

• In Madhya Pradesh, night curfew is in force between 10 pm and 6 am in Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Vidisha and Ratlam. "People engaged in essential services and factory workers are exempted," Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said.
• The night curfew in some cities in Gujarat comes a day after a similar restriction was announced for Ahmedabad till November 23. Only shops selling milk and medicines will be allowed to remain open during the "complete curfew" in Ahmedabad, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had said.

Let us now take a look at the new Covid-19 protocols and rules imposed by their respective state governments in some of these cities:

Delhi

• If a person is found in a public place without a mask, then s/he will have to pay a fine of Rs 2,000.

• The maximum number of guests allowed at a wedding in Delhi is 50.

• There will be strict surveillance at the markets of Delhi.

• Precautions should be taken by the citizens but there will not be an overall lockdown.

Ahmedabad

• From Friday 9 am to Monday 6 pm, there is going to be a complete curfew in the city. Exception is only for selling milk and medicines.

• Night curfew on all days from 9 pm to 6 am will continue.

• Schools were to open from November 23 but it has been decided that they will remain closed.

Indore

• From November 21, there will be a night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am. Those who are engaged in essential services will be exempted.

• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that there will be no overall lockdown in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

• Night curfew will also be imposed in other few cities of the state namely Bhopal, Gwalior, Vidisha and Ratlam.

Some state-specific rules are:

Haryana

After 174 students and 107 teachers tested positive for Covid-19, the state government of Haryana has again closed schools till November 30.

Gujarat

From Saturday, night curfew in Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara has been imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Rajasthan

There will be Section 144 imposed from Saturday in all the districts of Rajasthan.

Maharashtra

• The state government has asked the local administration if or not schools should be reopened.

• Schools under BMC will not reopen this year.

• Schools in Thane will also remain shut.