Uttar Pradesh lifts night curfew as COVID-19 cases drop
The government of Uttar Pradesh has decided to lift the night curfew imposed due to COVID-19, with effect from Saturday (February 19). The restriction was in place across the state between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, but had been eased by one hour starting February 13. The decision has been taken amid a drop in daily new coronavirus cases and the test positivity rate.
Why does this story matter?
The decision comes as the COVID-19 situation in UP and across India improves. On Friday, the state added 842 fresh coronavirus infections, taking the tally past 20.63 lakh. Meanwhile, the number of active cases has come down from around 15,000 a week ago to 8,683. Daily new COVID-19 cases in UP had crossed the 18,000-mark in the ongoing wave.
Night curfew was imposed in December
"In view of a sharp drop in coronavirus cases, it has been decided to end the night curfew from today," Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Awanish Awasthi, said in a statement. The UP government had announced the night curfew in December amid a fresh wave of infections triggered by the Omicron variant. Restrictions on gatherings and social functions had also been imposed across the state.
Decision comes before third round of polling
The night curfew has been eased a day before UP holds the third phase of the 2022 assembly elections. A total of 59 assembly constituencies spread across 16 districts will go to the polls and over 2.15 crore people are eligible to cast their vote.
COVID-19 situation across India
Across India, 22,270 new COVID-19 cases were added on Saturday morning as the nationwide tally climbed to 4,28,02,505. Meanwhile, the country's death count stood at 5,11,230 after an addition of 325 fatalities, according to data from the Union Health Ministry. Daily COVID-19 cases have remained below one lakh for nearly two weeks now. India had seen a third wave peak of around 3,50,000 infections.
