Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is set to start the New Year on a bleak note, with a spike in Omicron cases on Friday and stringent curbs across the state.

Despite the fact that daily Covid cases in the state have decreased after being the most in the country for nearly two months, the arrival of Omicron has changed the scenario once again. Kerala reported 44 new cases of COVID-19 Omicron variant infections on Friday, bringing the total number of illnesses in the state to 107. With a night curfew in effect since Thursday night, Kerala residents who had planned a New Year's Eve celebration must be indoors by 10 p.m. or face police action.

From December 30 to January 2, a special meeting headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to impose a night curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., as well as curfews on beaches across the state, where the largest crowds gather to ring in the New Year.

As a result, the Kerala Police announced that everyone must leave the Kovalam beach by 8.30 p.m. on Friday, while the police began turning people away from the Kozhikode beach from 5.30 p.m.

India Corona Overview: Active cases rise to 1 lakh

Tamil Nadu commences New Year with fresh COVID-19 restrictions

Corona vaccination registration of 15-18 age group to begin today