<p id="thickbox_headline">The Odisha government on Tuesday prohibited gatherings for New Year celebrations at hotels and all other public places, stating that such congregations have "large potential" for Covid-19 transmission.</p>.<p>Picnics at parks and other public spaces have also been barred.</p>.<p>No community feast shall be allowed in the open on the occasion of New Year's Eve, the special relief commissioner said in the renewed Covid-19 guidelines for December.</p>.<p>People usually gather in large numbers in hotels, restaurants, clubs, parks and convention halls on December 31 and January 1 to welcome the New Year.</p>.<p>"Such congregations have large potential for the spread of the Covid-19 infection," the order stated. Hence, gatherings in public places on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day have been prohibited, it said.</p>.<p>The government advised revellers to limit such functions on the premises of their homes.</p>.<p>Only 'green crackers' will be allowed during the New Year celebrations, albeit not in public, the order underlined.</p>.<p>Marriages, funerals and other such gatherings have been granted permission with a ceiling of 250 people, including hosts, guests, priests and caterers. Only 50 people, including bridegroom and band members, will be allowed to take part in a wedding procession, with necessary approval from authorities.</p>.<p>There will be no weekend shutdown across the state and night curfew will be in place in all urban areas from 10 pm to 5 am every day. Cultural programmes have been granted permission, with open air theatres being given a ceiling of 2,000 people, depending on the space.</p>.<p>Movie theatres and events at indoor halls will operate at 50 per cent seating capacity. Those violating the norms will be booked under the Disaster Management Act, the order added. </p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest DH videos:</strong></p>
<p id="thickbox_headline">The Odisha government on Tuesday prohibited gatherings for New Year celebrations at hotels and all other public places, stating that such congregations have "large potential" for Covid-19 transmission.</p>.<p>Picnics at parks and other public spaces have also been barred.</p>.<p>No community feast shall be allowed in the open on the occasion of New Year's Eve, the special relief commissioner said in the renewed Covid-19 guidelines for December.</p>.<p>People usually gather in large numbers in hotels, restaurants, clubs, parks and convention halls on December 31 and January 1 to welcome the New Year.</p>.<p>"Such congregations have large potential for the spread of the Covid-19 infection," the order stated. Hence, gatherings in public places on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day have been prohibited, it said.</p>.<p>The government advised revellers to limit such functions on the premises of their homes.</p>.<p>Only 'green crackers' will be allowed during the New Year celebrations, albeit not in public, the order underlined.</p>.<p>Marriages, funerals and other such gatherings have been granted permission with a ceiling of 250 people, including hosts, guests, priests and caterers. Only 50 people, including bridegroom and band members, will be allowed to take part in a wedding procession, with necessary approval from authorities.</p>.<p>There will be no weekend shutdown across the state and night curfew will be in place in all urban areas from 10 pm to 5 am every day. Cultural programmes have been granted permission, with open air theatres being given a ceiling of 2,000 people, depending on the space.</p>.<p>Movie theatres and events at indoor halls will operate at 50 per cent seating capacity. Those violating the norms will be booked under the Disaster Management Act, the order added. </p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest DH videos:</strong></p>