Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Issues Guidelines For Christmas & New Year Celebration

Bhubaneswar: In view of restriction imposed by the state government to preventing the spread of COVID-19, particularly the newly detected highly contagious Omicron variant, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation imposed the following stipulations on December 25 and from December 31 to January 2, 2022 for all concerned within BMC Jurisdiction.

The restrictions imposed are as follows:

1. The Church authority shall ensure that there are as many participants inside the church so that social distancing of 6 f is maintained among them. However, in no case the total number of participants shall exceed 50.

2. The Church authority shall also ensure that all participants inside the church premises adhere to other COVID appropriate behaviour like proper wearing of Mask, Hand hygiene etc.

3. Person who has been administered with both the COVID vaccine doses will be allowed inside the church.

4. The church authority shall make provision of thermal screening outside the church and ensure that no symptomatic person is allowed inside the church.

5. BMC shall install COVID RAT testing facility outside each church and only those who are negative will be allowed inside the Church.

6. Zero Night Celebration, New year Welcome in hotels, restaurants, Clubs, Parks, Convention halls, Kalyan Mandaps or other such places is completely banned.

7. Picnics/Community feasts at public places are prohibited and  citizens are advised to celebrate within their home premises with no mass gatherings by adhering to all COVID appropriate behaviour.

9. Funeral rites is allowed with due COVID-19 protocols.

10. Other than marriage (but not reception and ancillary functions) any other celebration/ congregation is strictly prohibited.

11. However on these dates if BMC has issued permission for events like marriage/death rituals etc. the stipulations mentioned above in 9 and 10 to be strictly adhered. 12 No social gathering, rallies, dances,  orchestras and other cultural programmes shall be permitted.