Lucknow: Following the drastic increase of Omicron coronavirus variant cases, the Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am, starting Saturday.

UP government has imposed restrictions on public functions and marriages in the state. Only 200 people could attend marriages and Covid protocols must be followed. UP chief minister Yogi Adiyanath has suggested the shopkeepers and traders follow the no mask and goods policy in the state.

Strict instructions have been issued to the officials to compulsory covid test for those who arrived to the state from abroad and other states. The state government asked the officials to a vigil on railway stations and bus stops in the state.

After the Madhya Pradesh government, UP has imposed the night curfew, the state will go for Assembly early 2022. Night curfew imposed by the state government after Allahabad High Court requested the Election Commission to consider postponing the Assembly polls due to Covid.

With memories of thousands of people - not wearing face masks or practising social distancing - at campaign rallies in Bengal and other states ahead of elections there earlier this year, the High Court also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban poll-related gatherings in the state.

The total number of Omicron Covid cases in India, as of this morning, is 358.

Maharashtra has 88, followed by Delhi (67), Telangana (38), Tamil Nadu (34), Karnataka (31) and Gujarat (30). Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, Odisha, J&K, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Ladakh and Uttarakhand have also reported Omicron cases