Mumbai Imposes 12-Hour New Year Curbs On Visiting Public Places Amid Omicron Spread

The prohibitory order has been issued to prevent danger to human life, health and safety and to curb transmission of the Covid-19 virus.

Passengers wearing face masks as a precaution against coronavirus arrive at Dadar railway station in Mumbai, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. (PTI Photo)

Mumbai: A day after announcing the prohibition of New Year celebrations and gatherings in any closed or open space in view of the massive jump in daily cases of Covid-19, the Mumbai Police on Friday extended the restrictions under Section 144 of the IPC in the city till January 15.

The citizens have been prohibited from visiting beaches, open grounds, sea faces, promenades, gardens, parks or similar public places from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The prohibitory order has been issued to prevent danger to human life, health and safety and to curb transmission of the Covid-19 virus.

In case of marriages, whether in enclosed spaces or open to sky spaces, the maximum number of attendees shall remain restricted to 50 persons, as per the order issued by the Commissioner of Police, Greater Mumbai.

In case of any gathering or program, whether political, social, religious or cultural, whether in enclosed spaces or open to sky spaces, the maximum number of attendees shall remain restricted to 50 persons.

In case of last rites, the maximum number of attendees shall remain restricted to 20 persons.

Any person contravening this order shall be punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 in addition to penal provisions under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 and National Disaster Management Act 2005 and other legal provisions as applicable, the order further states.

Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil had earlier told ABP News that Section 144 has been imposed in the city so that people cannot gather during the New Year eve or celebrations.

“The people should not break Covid induced rules. The corona cases are increasing in Mumbai and we should pay attention to it. Celebrate the new year with your family. This time around we have not allowed any kind of party and whoever is caught hosting such an event will be punished,” Patil said.

Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra reported 198 new cases of the Omicron variant, including 190 in Mumbai alone.

The state logged over 5,000 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours.