The fear of the second wave of Covid-19 continues to haunt the Odisha government even though the mutated strain of Sars Covid-2 has not been detected in UK returnees to the state.

In order to ensure that Odisha does not lose its grip on Covid management, the Naveen Patnaik government has declared a ban on night celebrations this New Year eve.

In order to strictly implement the ban the government has clamped night curfew across the state to avoid congregations and celebrations. “The night curfew will be imposed from 10pm tonight to 5am on Friday. All are requested to cooperate,” Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P.K. Jena said.

The administration announced that the 12th Century Shree Jagannath temple would remain closed on January 1 and January 2 to avoid congregations. The temple will be thrown open to the public on January 3. But those having Covid negative certificates only will be allowed to enter the shrine.

On the other hand, commissioner of police Sudhansu Sarangi on Thursday announced to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPc in the twin cities — Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to curb zero night celebrations. He urged the people not to venture out of their homes after 9pm. “Except for emergency requirements, those who are found to be roaming on the streets will be taken to task by the police,” warned the police commissioner.

The Odisha government has asked it’s official to exchange greetings through virtual mode and not to gather to exchange new year’s greetings.

However, cinema halls and theatres will reopen from January 1 with 50 per cent capacity. All these complexes have been closed since the outbreak of corona pandemic in March.

Meanwhile, another 315 people tested Covid positive in the state in the last 24 hours. However, there was relief for the people of Odisha as the state government on Thursday announced that not a single person returning to the state from Britain has been found carrying the mutated strain of new variant of coronavirus.

“The mutated strain of Sars Covid 2 has not been detected in any sample in the state,” said additional chief secretary and head of the health and family welfare department P.K. Mohapatra.

As per the government officials, Odisha had sent six samples of UK returnees to Pune and Delhi for genome sequencing. However, the test report pointed out no presence of the mutated strain of new variant coronavirus.

“We will be getting reports of the three more samples sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune. It will be reaching to us soon,” the officials said.

As many as 188 people have returned to the state from Britain. So far the state government officials have been able to trace 179 of these returnees and get them tested for Covid-19. Only seven have tested positive.