Maharashtra announces guidelines for New Year celebrations: Know what's allowed, what's barred

Several restrictions have been announced in the state for New Year celebrations in view of the rapidly rising Covid-19 cases.

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday released a new set of detailed guidelines for New Year celebrations this year and urged citizens to keep it “low key” in view of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

No new year celebrations allowed in Mumbai, restrictions across the state too. (Photo: Manoj Verma/ HT (For representational purposes only))

The Uddhav Thackeray-led government announced several fresh restrictions on gatherings at public places with the rise of Omicron cases in the state. The government had already imposed a night curfew from 9pm to 6am from December 25 in view of the recent surge in coronavirus cases.

Omicron is the newest variant of SARS-CoV-2 which is spreading faster than Delta, though its impact is not as severe as Delta, according to researchers.

Here's what's allowed on New Year's in Maharashtra:

• Events can be held with up to 50 per cent of the seating capacity in closed halls and 25 per cent occupancy in open spaces.
• Citizens can gather at public places like beaches, gardens and streets if they maintain social distancing and regular sanitisation.
• On New Year’s Day, citizens are allowed to visit religious places with proper social distancing.
• In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Corporation (BMC) has permitted restaurants, gyms and cinema theatres to operate at 50 per cent capacity.

What's not allowed:

• Not more than one person can come together for New Year celebrations.
• In Mumbai, New Year celebrations in confined or open spaces are not allowed.
• No crowding is allowed at public places like Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Girgaon Chowpatty and Juhu Chowpatty.
• No religious or cultural programmes on the occasion of New Year's allowed.
• Fireworks are strictly banned and noise pollution rules are to be maintained.
• Those above 60 and children under 10 years of age have been advised not to leave their homes on the night of December 31.
• In Mumbai, the BMC has restricted gathering of more than five people at public places between 9pm to 6am.

Cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray said Mumbai may witness more than 2,000 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday given the recent daily spike. He made the statement shortly after a meeting with senior BMC officials.

The city had reported 1,333 Covid-19 cases of the total 2,172 fresh cases in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the latest available data.