Karnataka government has decided to impose night curfew across the state from December 23 till January 2, 2021, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced on Wednesday.
The curfew will be in effect from 11 pm to 6 am.
The announcement comes just ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Although the number of COVID-19 cases have been coming down, authorities fear that gathering during festive season can trigger another wave.
The discovery of new coronavirus strain found in the UK is said to be the main reason behind the imposition of the night curfew.
"This has been done to prevent and contain the coronavirus strain found in the UK. We are also monitoring international passengers arriving in the state," Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said.
Earlier, Maharashtra became the first state to impose night curfew in the wake of a new fast-spreading coronavirus strain which has gone "out of control" in the United Kingdom.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government on Monday announced a night curfew in all municipal corporations in the state from December 22 to January 5.
India's COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,00,99,066 with 23,950 new infections being reported in a day, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 96.63 lakh, the Union Health Ministry said.
