Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases across India, along with the rising detection of the Omicron variant, Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, among other states, have imposed Covid restrictions on hotels, restaurants, bars, banquets and conference halls.
Omicron (B.1.1.529) is a variant of SARS-CoV-2 that has been identified initially in Covid-19 patients in Botswana and South Africa. India detected first such strain last month.
Many states across the country have also enforced night curfew, restrictions on travel, social gatherings, meetings and more. The COVID surge has also forced closure of gyms, spas, swimming pools, schools and colleges, while offices were directed to run with 50 percent capacity and encourage work-from-home situation.
In Delhi, restaurants will remain open with 50 per cent capacity. The timings of the restaurants will be restricted between 8 am and 10 pm. The bars too will be open with half of their capacity, but from 12 noon to 10 pm. The hotels, on the other hand, will remain open. However, the banquets and conference halls (inside the hotels) will remain closed, ndtv reported.
In Maharashtra, section 144 has been imposed on different parts of the state till January 7, 2021. As per the new restrictions, parties and gatherings are prohibited in any closed or open space including restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, resorts and clubs until January 7.
In West Bengal, restaurants and bars are allowed to operate with 50 percent capacity at a time. The timings of these restaurants are restricted up to 10 pm, until January 15.
The Rajasthan government has recently announced night curfew between 11 pm and 5 am. They have also imposed restrictions on any kind of gatherings. According to the new rules, maximum of 100 people are allowed for any kind of public or social gathering at any place. These restrictions have been imposed on the state until January 7, 2021.
