Bengal Covid restrictions extended till June 15

Mangalore Today News Network / NDTV

Kolkata, May 27, 2021:     Bengal has extended Covid-related restrictions on services and movement till June 15. Restrictions currently in place were announced on May 15 and were due to expire at the end of the month.

 

Mamata Banerjee said Covid numbers in the state - one of those worst affected by the second wave - were declining and, for the economy’s sake, she was not announcing a "total lockdown".

"Please don’t call this a lockdown. Covid numbers have come down and for the sake of the economy there will be no total lockdown," the Chief Minister said.

Restrictions announced earlier this month will carry over into the new ’near-lockdown’ period.

All offices and educational institutions will be shut, as well transport services, including the Metro.

Emergency services will be allowed.

Grocery stores and shops selling essential items will stay open between 7 and 10 am. Shops selling sweets, including traditional Bengali sweetmeats, can open from 10 am to 5 pm.

Petrol pumps and so banks can operate from 10 am to 2 pm.

Industries will be closed but tea gardens can function, although at 50 per cent strength only.

No cultural, political, academic, administrative or religious events and functions will be allowed during this period. No outdoor congregations will be permitted between 9 pm and 5 am.

Weddings can have a maximum of 50 guests.

This morning Bengal reported over 16,000 new COVID-19 cases and 153 deaths in 24 hours.

Active cases are over 1.23 lakh - which is marginally lower than the record 1.32 lakh from May 18.

Nearly 15,000 Covid-related deaths have been reported from Bengal since the pandemic began.