Omicron Scare: Night curfew in Uttar Pradesh from 11 PM to 5 AM

New Delhi : A night curfew has been implemented in Uttar Pradesh from 11 pm to 5 am starting tomorrow (Saturday) amid rising concerns of omicron variant spread.

In addition, UP has also restricted to a maximum number of guest to 200 people for attending marriages and social functions, at which all necessary Covid-safety protocols must be followed. According to a report, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked all shopkeepers and traders to follow the "no mask, no goods" policy.

Officials have also been asked to ensure that all those arriving in UP from abroad, and other states, are tested for Covid, with particular attention to be paid to railway and bus stations.

Poll-bound UP becomes the second state, after Madhya Pradesh, to impose night-time restrictions.

Yesterday Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan had announced a night curfew of 11 pm to 5 am would be enforced effective immediately. Though, the state has not registered any Omicron Covid case yet.

The Uttar Pradesh night curfew order also comes a day after the Allahabad High Court requested the Election Commission to consider postponing Assembly elections due in two months.

Across the country fewer than 7,500 new COVID-19 cases were detected in the previous 24 hours. 

The total number of Omicron Covid cases in India, as of this morning, is 358.