As New Year is around the corner, a pile of restrictions has been put in place in several Indian states to ban the celebrations in the wake of the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. Chennai, which is a major coastal city that would typically witness a busy coastal stretch during the New Year celebrations, would welcome 2022 with no such celebrations as the state government has banned the people from visiting the beaches in Chennai and across the state with the view of containing the virus spread. 

The Chennai Police have now issued guidelines and restrictions for New Year's Eve for the city. The police said that people will not be allowed to gather in Marina Beach, Elliots Beach, Neelankarai, and the East Coast Road. From 9 pm onwards during New Year's Eve, vehicles will not be allowed on Marina Beach, from War Memorial to Gandhi Statue, Kamaraj Road, and Besant Nagar Elliots Beach Road. In line with these restrictions in the coastal lines, the New Year Celebrations will not be allowed on RK Salai, Rajaji Salai, Kamarajar Salai, Anna Salai, GST Road, and other arterial roads. 

Covid-19 standard operating procedures must be followed in all places of worship and people must be wearing face masks and they must be allowed to enter such places after the thermal screening. The Chennai Police have also banned resorts, clubs, farmhouses, and convention centres from conducting commercialised New Year Celebrations and restricted DJ programmes and dance parties. 

The police had directed the residents of apartments and villas not to gather and conduct the celebrations during New Year's Eve. Shows, dance performances, DJs, and concerts are prohibited in hotels, entertainment venues, farmhouses, and public places. The city's law enforcement agency has added that there will be checkpoints at several locations within the city to enforce the restrictions and to monitor the movements of the vehicles. 

The restrictions have come into place when Tamil Nadu has been recording a surge in the cases of the Omicron variant. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian has appealed to the people to avoid taking part in New Year celebrations as there was a risk of the spread of the virus. He stated that Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had written to the state governments on Tuesday regarding curbing the public gatherings.

Subramanian has expressed his concern over the surge in Covid cases in Chennai and said that wearing of masks in the city is low and only 32% of people wear masks in the slum areas. He urged the public to wear a face mask, maintain social distancing, and adhere to the Covid-19 protocols. On Tuesday - December 28, Tamil Nadu had reported 11 more cases of the Omicron variant, which had taken the state's total tally to 45 so far. 

Last week, Tamil Nadu has reported 33 Omicron cases in a day that put the tally to 34 and the state has now recorded eleven more cases. According to reports, of the eleven fresh cases, six have been getting treated at the King Institute in Guindy, Chennai. While four cases have come from the countries that are tagged as 'risk' of the Omicron spread, three people have come from the risk-free country and the rest four had contracted the variant after coming in close contact with the positive cases. 

Of the 11 cases, eight belong to Chennai and one each from Kanniyakumari, Tiruvannamalai, and Tiruvarur districts. In the total of 45 cases, 35 belong to Chennai, four belong to Madurai, three belong to Tiruvannamalai, and one each from Salem, Kanniyakumari, and Tiruvarur. India has reported its first Omicron case on December 2 and the country has recorded 653 cases so far as of Tuesday- December 28.