Puducherry (Puducherry) [India], December 29 (ANI): Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered a ban on liquor sale in Puducherry from 10 pm on December 31 till 1 am on January 1.

The vacation bench of Madras High Court with Justices S Vaidyanathan and D Bharatha Chakravarthy heard a petition seeking a ban on celebrations to contain the spread of COVID-19 in view of the emergence of the Omicron variant.

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Counsel for Puducherry Union Territory said the UT government has imposed severe restrictions and has taken preventive measures to ensure COVID-appropriate behaviour during the new year celebrations.

Puducherry confirmed two cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus on Tuesday.

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Puducherry Health Department has instructed all hotels, malls, restaurants, cinema owners to only allow individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter their premises for new year celebrations. (ANI)

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