Uttarakhand: No Political Rallies, Schools & Colleges To Remain Shut Till Jan 16 Amid Covid Surge | Details Below

A night curfew has also been imposed in the state from 10 pm to 6 am, said the order issued on Friday

(File Photo/ Getty Images)

New Delhi: In a major development in the poll-bound state of Uttarakhand, the state on Friday prohibited political rallies amid the surging Covid-19 cases. Of all the states in which Assembly Elections are held, Uttarakhand is the first state to ban all political rallies and protests.

The restrictions have come amid 630 fresh coronavirus cases being reported in the state on Friday, the highest single-day spike in seven months. The active case have touched 1425.

“In view of the rising #COVID19 cases, Uttarkhand govt imposes new restrictions-all political rallies and protests in the state will be prohibited till January 16. All schools and Anganwadi centres will also remain closed till January 16,” said the state government order.

Going by the order, the ban on political rallies as well as demonstrations will continue at least till January 16. The Congress party had decided to postpone its big rallies in Uttarakhand, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, and Goa due to the emergence of Omicron.

Chech New Restrictions Imposed Here

A night curfew has also been imposed in the state from 10 pm to 6 am, the order issued on Friday said.

All business establishments and markets will be allowed to remain open from 6 am to 10 pm.

Shopping malls, gyms, cinema halls, spas, salons, amusement parks, theatres, auditoriums will be allowed to function at 50 percent capacity.

Sports institutions, stadiums, and playgrounds can remain open at 50 percent capacity while swimming pools and water parks will remain closed till January 16.

All kinds of public events, including entertainment, education, culture, will not be allowed till January 16.

The order permitted funeral and marriage-related gatherings with a maximum of 50 percent of hall capacity in both open and closed spaces.

Hotels, restaurants, food joints, and dhabas will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity and with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. However, home delivery and takeaways of food items should be encouraged, the order read.

Conference halls, spas, and gyms at hotels are allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity.

Those arriving from other states who fail to show double-dose vaccination certificates will be allowed to enter Uttarakhand only after producing a Covid-19 negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours.