Coronavirus: Lockdown in Kolkata, some other parts of West Bengal

The West Bengal government on Sunday ordered complete lockdown of Kolkata, eight districts and municipal and district towns besides some rural areas in other parts of the state from 5 p.m. on Monday to Friday midnight to combat the spread of coronavirus.

By: IANS | | Published: March 23, 2020 9:48 am

The government of West Bengal hereby notifies 'complete safety restriction' with effect from 5 p.m. on March 23 to midnight of March 27.

The West Bengal government on Sunday ordered complete lockdown of Kolkata, eight districts and municipal and district towns besides some rural areas in other parts of the state from 5 p.m. on Monday to Friday midnight to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Health services, medicine shops, optical stores, manufacturing units engaged in production of essential commodities, telecom, internet, Information Technology and Information Technology enabled services, postal services, fire, civil defence and emergency services have also been exempted from the restrictions.

Other exempted services including law and order, courts and correctional services, police, armed forces and paramilitary forces, electricity, water and conservancy services.

District Magistrates and Municipal Commissioners have been made the competent authority to decide in case there is doubt over any establishment being essential or not.

Seven persons including three members of a family and their maid servant have been detected with coronavirus infection in Bengal so far.

The lockdown decision came after a video conference between the Central government and the state officials on a day the country observed a ‘Janata Curfew’ following a call given by prime minister Narendra Modi to fight community spread of the disease.

The interstate bus services to and from West Bengal have already been suspended by the state government till March 31.

The authorities have also shut down all restaurants, pubs, bars, clubs, night clubs, hookah bars, night clubs, massage parlours, amusement parks, museums and zoos from Sunday morning, and ordered that all social gatherings be avoided completely, with even the unavoidable ones having bare minimum attendance till March 31.

In a notification, the state government has threatened strict legal action in case of any violation.

All state educational institutes are closed till April 15.

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Published : March 23, 2020 9:48 am

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