In a bid to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant,section 144 has been imposed in Mumbai for the next 48 hours by the DeputyCommissioner of Police (operational). This step has been taken to prevent massgatherings of people as well as vehicles.
"It has been issued to prevent danger to human lifefrom the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 as well as a threat to the law andorder situation against the backdrop of violence that took place in Amravati,Malegaon, and Nanded," said the Deputy Commissioner of police.
Maharashtra reported 7 new cases of omicron variantincluding one-and-a-half year baby taking a total number of omicron cases inMaharashtra to 17 making it the state with highest number of new variant casesin India.
According to the Mumbai Police sources, this step hasbeen taken for mainly two reasons.
The first reason was a rally planned by the All IndiaMajlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party due to which several workers arrivedin Mumbai. The Police have not given permission to hold the rally but AIMIM hasdecided to move ahead with it anyway. The second reason includes the protestsplanned by BJP against a statement by Sanjay Raut.
Maharashtra reported Seven Omicron Cases on Fridayincluding three from Mumbai and four from Pimpri Chinchwad MunicipalCorporation, apprised the state health department on Friday.
According to the health department, three patients fromMumbai were all males and were recent travelers from Tanzania, the UK, andSouth Africa-Nairobi. Out of seven, four were fully vaccinated and wereasymptomatic while the other three had mild symptoms.