The Bengal government on Monday extended the ongoing Covid-induced lockdown till July 1, keeping in place exisiting restrictions on public transport, but eased certain curbs on offices and business establishments from June 16.
“We have allowed extension of business hours with the condition that the staff be vaccinated. We don’t want business to suffer,” said chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Government and private offices have been allowed to work with 25 per cent staff from June 16 with hours fixed between 10am and 4pm for the latter. Also, private offices will have to ensure transportation of employees who need to attend office, for which the state government will allow e-passes.
The restaurants and bar in the state are allowed to open between 12 noon to 8 pm operating at 50 per cent seating capacity. Shops in shopping malls and complexes are also allowed to open between 11 am to 6 pm with 50 per cent workforce. Meanwhile, all markets can remain open between 7 am to 11 am. All education institutions will remain closed. However, the movement of people in the state has been restricted between 9 pm and 5 am.
On Sunday, West Bengal reported 3,984 new coronavirus cases 84 deaths. The total COVID-19 tally in the state now stands at 14,61,257 so far. As of now 16,896 people have lost their lives owing of coronavirus in the state.
North 24 Parganas district recorded the highest number of new cases at 597, followed by 426 in Kolkata. As many as 2,497 more people were cured of the disease, taking the total number of recoveries to 14,26,710. The recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state stands at 97.64 per cent, the bulletin said.
Currently, there were 17,651 active cases of COVID-19 in West Bengal.
