Karnataka bans mass gatherings and parties from Dec 30-to Jan 2 due to Omicron threat

Karnataka government on Tuesday said that no parties or mass gatherings would be permitted in the state from December 30 to January 2."We had a meeting with experts through video conference regarding the new year celebrations, keeping in mind the COVID-19 and Omicron related cases," Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters. On their recommendation, the government decided to prohibit mass gatherings in the city and other public places in the state. "We are banning mass gatherings at open places. This is across the state from December 30 to January 2," Bommai said.

He said no parties or events like having Disc Jockeys at clubs and restaurants would be allowed. "The clubs and restaurants will be allowed to have only 50 per cent of the capacity, but there is a ban on organising parties and Disc Jockeys," Bommai said. Similarly in apartments too, there will be no parties or DJs and residents' associations will have to ensure that the rules are not violated. As many as 19 cases of Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus have been reported so far in the state. India has at least 200 cases of the new Omicron variant till now, the health ministry said on Tuesday. Maharashtra and Delhi have the highest number of Omicron cases, at 54 each followed by Telangana (20) and Karnataka (19). The country recorded 5,326 new coronavirus cases and 453 deaths in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Tuesday. Active cases stand at 79,097, the lowest in 574 days.