In the wake of a steady increase in the number of Omicron cases, the Delhi government on Wednesday banned all gatherings to celebrate Christmas and New Year. An order issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has instructed district authorities to take all required measures in their respective jurisdiction to control the spread of virus.
The District Magistrates have been asked to conduct intensive survey and identify areas which have the potential of becoming super-spreader or hotspot.
The DMs have also been directed to advise Resident Welfare Associations and Market Trade Associations to not allow residents, shopkeepers and customers without mask in their respective areas.
“MTAs should implement ‘No Mask No Entry’ at the shops or work places. They should also be made aware that if they fail in compliance of Covid-appropriate behavior, the District Magistrate would be compelled to take stringent action in the field including the shutdown/ closure of business premises / markets / public places etc in the interest of public health,” the order said.
The DMs and DCPs should deploy sufficient number of enforcement teams for keeping utmost vigil at public places to control the spread in the wake of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. “All District Magistrates and District DCPs shall ensure that no cultural event/ gatherings/ congregations take place for celebrating Christmas or New Year in NCT of Delhi,” said the order.
It further said that the DMs and DCPs will conduct surprise checks and raids in their areas and take strict penal action against the defaulters as per the Delhi Disaster Management Act 2005.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka banned public New Year celebrations and mass gatherings in the wake of the threat of Omicron variant.
“No New Year parties will be allowed at restaurants and clubs. But they are allowed to function at 50 per cent capacity. Apartment complexes have also been banned from conducting any special events to celebrate the New Year,” Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai said.
On Tuesday, the Centre asserted that the Omicron variant was at least thrice more transmissible than Delta, and asked states and union territories to "activate" war rooms, keep analyzing even small trends and surges and keep taking strict and prompt containment action at district and local levels.
In a letter to the states and union territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan advised implementing strategic interventions for containment like imposition of night curfew, strict regulation of large gatherings, curtailing numbers in marriages and funerals besides increasing testing and surveillance.
States and union territories have been asked to increase bed capacity, other logistics like ambulances, mechanism for seamless shifting of patients, availability and operational readiness of oxygen equipment, buffer stock of drugs to be ensured by prompt utilization of Emergency Covid Response Package (ECRP-II) funds released by central government and other available resources etc.
