Omicron Scare: Manipur Govt Restricts Music Concerts And Large Gathering

Imphal: In the wake of the first omicron variant found in Manipur, the state government has banned music concerts, Thabal Chongba, celebratory feasts and large gatherings of people.

In this regard, just days ahead of New Year celebrations, the Chief Secretary and chairman of the State Executive Committee, Rajesh Kumar, on Wednesday issued an order.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government took to the micro-blogging site Twitter and said,'' Amidst the sudden rise in the number of COVID positive cases in Manipur, the government has imposed a night curfew in the state with restrictions to large gatherings. The order shall remain in force till 31-01-2022''.

As per the order, a night curfew will be imposed from 9 PM to 4 AM with an exemption for essential services and medical emergencies.

"Wearing of face masks in public places, gatherings and crowded areas is a critical Covid Appropriate Behaviour and it should be strictly enforced and violators to be penalised promptly under relevant rules," the order read.

The order further asked all the District Magistrates (DMs) to strictly enforce the above restrictions by invoking relevant provisions of law.

"This order is in continuation of the order of even number dated 27.12.2021 and shall remain in force till 31.01.2022," the order stated.

Recently, a 48-year-old man from Manipur had tested positive for Omicron, becoming the first case of the new Covid-19 variant in the northeast.

Khoirom Sasbeekumar Mangang, Additional Director of the state's Health and Family Welfare Department, said the man from Imphal West had recently visited Tanzania. After he returned to the state, his sample was collected on December 21 which was sent for genome sequencing to the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) at Takyelpat near Imphal.

The report of the sample had tested positive for the omicron variant.

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