"Prior Permission is mandated to hold an event of 200 or more people," says: BMC

Violation of the guidelines will attract action under the IPC and Disaster Management Act, 2005

Mumbai: Amid the rise of the new variant Omicron, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said that prior permission is now compulsory for any program or event to be attended by 200 or more people.

According to the order issued on December 20, the permission of the local assistant municipal commissioner will be required for such programs or functions.

Adding more details on the circular, the BMC said, local ward officers should send their "representatives" to check if rules related to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour are being followed strictly at such programs.

Earlier, on November 20, the Mumbai Govt. issued guidelines that said no special permission was necessary for gatherings of less than 1,000 people.

Due to the rise in the cases of the Omicron, the BMC decided to take strict steps to combat the virus. The latest BMC circular said that if the owner, hotelier or organisers claim that their venue can accommodate more than 200 persons even after following COVID-19-related norms and ensuring 6 ft by 6 ft distance between individuals, prior written permission of the assistant municipal commissioner must be obtained.

 Further, closed (indoor) halls can operate at 50 per cent of their total capacity, while open-to-sky venues shall operate at only 25 per cent of total capacity.

Violation of these guidelines will attract action under the IPC and Disaster Management Act, 2005, the circular stated.

 Moreover, BMC's health department held a meeting and reactivated the jumbo Covid-19 centres in the city amid rising cases of the Omicron variant of the infection. The medical protocol of treating Omicron will be decided by BMC officials and given to the state task force for final approval.