Bhubaneswar: With the detection of four Omicron variant of Corona virus, the State Government has imposed restrictions on celebration of Christmas and New Year, 2022.
Additional Chief Secretary Disaster Management & Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena has issued an order on Friday.
The State Government has earlier imposed restrictions on religious festivals, festivities and functions for containment of Covid-19 with effect from December 1 2021 till 5 AM of January 1, 2022.
Within a matter of few days the new Covid variant B.1.1.529 or Omicron has been the cause of concern for the State as it has been detected in Odisha, Jena said.
The Government of India has identified fourteen countries as ‘at risk’ and mandated home quarantine for all who arrive from these countries and are Covid negative in airport screening.
“With a view to protecting the health of the public and preventing spread of new variant of Covid-19, the Government of Odisha in exercise of powers conferred under section 2 of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Odisha COVID-19 Regulation, 2020 impose the following restrictions from December 25, 2021 till January 2, 2022,” reads the order.
Christmas celebration will be limited to Churches with a maximum of 50 persons joining the mass by strictly following Covid protocols and in terms of specific conditions as imposed by District Magistrates/Municipal Commissioners/ Local Authorities while permitting such mass, if any.
Zero Night celebration, Welcome to New Year in hotels, clubs, restaurants, parks, convention halls, Kalyan Mandaps, etc. is completely banned across the State.
No celebration other than marriage (but not receptions and ancillary functions) is allowed across the State.
Funeral rites are allowed with due COVID-19 protocols. There shall be strict vigilance on crowding and gathering during the above occasions.
“No community feast is also allowed. No social gathering, rallies, orchestras, dances and other cultural programmes shall be permitted,” the SRC ordered.
District Magistrates & Collectors, Police Commissioner of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Police Commissionerate and Municipal Commissioners have been authorized to scrupulously implement these guidelines and take all possible measures to enforce the guidelines.
They may impose any additional restrictions as may be felt necessary in the interest of containment of spread of Covid-19 and to ensure Covid appropriate behavior is followed by all concerned.
If any person violates the above guidelines, he/she will be taken into task as per existing provisions in laws.
