As a safety measure, the Madhya Pradesh government imposed a night curfew in the state from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Thursday, citing growing concerns about the new coronavirus variant Omicron. Residents were also advised to strictly follow COVID-19 protocols.
The curfew will be in effect starting Thursday night.
So far, no cases of Omicron, a ‘variant of concern’ according to the WHO, have been reported in Madhya Pradesh.
“Given the rapid spread of the Omicron virus around the world, now is the time for everyone to remain vigilant about the situation.” The Centre has also issued recommendations for maintaining social distance, wearing face masks, and avoiding crowded places.
“We have also decided to impose a night curfew in the entire state from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. tonight (Thursday) and will take additional measures if necessary to deal with the situation,” Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in his evening address to the people of the state.
In addition, if any coronavirus positive cases are discovered in the state, the patient will be placed in home isolation if there is enough space in his or her home, he said.
However, if there is a lack of space at home, the CM advises that such a person be admitted to a hospital for treatment to ensure the safety of other family members.
The state reported 30 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, a daily figure not seen in several weeks.
The continuous rise in coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi over the last week is concerning, according to Chouhan.
“People continue to flock to Madhya Pradesh from these states.” Cases began to rise last time in Maharashtra, then Gujarat, and finally Madhya Pradesh. People will never forget the difficulties encountered during the first and second waves. “It had started from Indore-Bhopal, whether it was the first wave or the second,” he said.
According to the CM, weekly cases in Indore and Bhopal increased by three times in December compared to November.
In order to bring about changes, it is preferable for people to take precautions now to avoid the arrival of a third wave, and a night curfew will be implemented beginning tonight, Chouhan said.
Omicron has already reached 16 states across the country, according to the chief minister, and the possibility of the variant arriving in Madhya Pradesh cannot be ruled out.
“Every day, one lakh coronavirus cases are reported in the United Kingdom, while 2.5 lakh cases are reported in the United States. It’s spreading quickly in Europe as well, so it’s time to stay vigilant,” he added.
So far, the state has reported 7,93,581 coronavirus cases and 10,531 deaths linked to the virus.