The Karnataka government has decided to impose a night curfew from December 23 night till January 2 across the state amid growing concerns over the new Covid-19 strain, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Wednesday.

The announcement comes after the chief minister met Health Minister K. Sudhakar, members of the state Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for Covid-19 and other senior officials.

“In view of the new stain of the COVID-19 virus and as per the advice of the Government of India and Technical Advisory Committee, it is decided to impose night curfew from today till January 2, 2021 between 10 pm and 6 am,” he told reporters.

“It will be applicable for the entire state.. I request all public to cooperate to prevent and contain the new Covid-19 strain,” Yediyurappa added.

Sudhakar had held a detailed discussion earlier in the day, with TAC members comprising senior health experts.

On Monday, neighbouring Maharashtra had declared a night curfew in municipal corporations and major cities in a bid to curb the spread of the new Covid-19 variant that has been detected in the United Kingdom.

Yediyurappa announced that Covid-19 certificates were a must for those travelling from abroad to the state, and the test should be done only 72 hours prior to the journey.

All arrangements have been done at the airport to conduct tests and health staff have been deployed there and we have seen that no one enters the city without getting tested.

Responding to a query, the chief minister said that normal activities shall continue until 10 pm, but no one should go out after that time.

He said a guideline will be issued soon in this regard.

“Regarding schools and colleges we have discussed and informed that it will open from January 1 for class 10 and second year PUC (class 12) students,” he said, adding, “Within two days we will see if there are any developments and come back. As of now it will start from January 1.”