Omicron: BMC chief warns violators ahead of festive season, urges caution

In a veiled reference to Bollywood parties amid reports that some actors had contracted the virus, Chahal said eminent personalities, who have an influence on society, must act responsibly and be aware of issues.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday issued a fresh advisory for citizens ahead of the festive week in the wake of a number of cases of the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) being reported from across the city and state.

Representational image.

Civic body chief IS Chahal said ward-level squads will be formed to take action against violators of protocol. With the Christmas-New Year festival season round the corner, he said people in the metropolis must avoid crowding in hotels, restaurants, cinemas, malls and attendance caps in place for marriages and other functions would have to be adhered to strictly.

In a veiled reference to Bollywood parties amid reports that some actors had contracted the virus, Chahal said celebrities and eminent personalities, who have an influence on society, must act responsibly and be aware of issues. Actors, including Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Arora, recently tested positive in the city after attending some gatherings and dinner parties.

While the attendance limit is 50 per cent of capacity of confined/closed spaces, it is 25 per cent of capacity in open places, while permission of the Local Disaster Management Authority would have to be obtained for any gathering of over 1,000 people, Chahal said.

"Use a mask properly, get fully vaccinated. A new variant of the Covid-19 virus called Omicron is spreading rapidly around the world, putting a strain on the health system. Despite repeated appeals by the government and administration to prevent a probable third wave, it has been observed that guidelines are not being followed properly in most places, especially in wedding functions and other ceremonies," the BMC chief said.

"Those violating Covid-19 rules will be dealt with severely by civic ward level teams as well as the police," he said, adding that the pandemic was under control at the moment in the country’s financial capital due to the cooperation of citizens as well as the excellent management and speed of the vaccination drive.

The BMC chief said guidelines issued by the Maharashtra government on November 27 as well as Mumbai police notifications warning of action against violators under IPC and Epidemic Diseases Act must be followed strictly by people.

"In the near future, the risk of Covid-19 virus spread may increase if ceremonies and functions are held on the occasion of Christmas and New Year. There is a need to curb the growing crowd at weddings and other ceremonies. Moreover, hotels, restaurants and other public establishments have also been found to be flouting norms," he said, and asked all stakeholders to adhere to guidelines strictly.

Chahal asked citizens to get both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine as quickly as possible, warning that action will be taken if staff functioning at public places or establishments as well as attendees at events, ceremonies are found to be not fully vaccinated as it is mandatory.

(With inputs from agencies)