Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, West Bengal govt announces 14-day lockdown from May 16 - extends lockdown till May 30

Times Now Digital Times, May 15, 2021, Kolkata: Amid a spike in the number of coronavirus infections, the West Bengal government on Saturday extended the lockdown in the state till May 30. This came after it registered its highest single-day spike of 20,846 fresh COVID-19 cases on Friday, taking the tally to 10,94,802.

The death toll in West Bengal rose to 12,993 after 136 more people, including five eminent doctors, succumbed to the infection, the health department had said in its bulletin.

Here's what's allowed and what's not during the lockdown period:

Closed

• All schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres will remain closed.
• All government and private offices and establishments shall remain closed.
• Shopping complexes, malls, restaurants, salons, gyms, swimming pools will remain closed.
• Retail shops to remain open only till 7 am till 10 am.
• Sweets and meat shops allowed to remain open from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Parks and zoos will remain closed.
• Metro services closed, local trains and buses will remain closed except for emergency essential service personnel.
• Local trains, metro services, inter state bus/train services, Inland Waterways to remain closed.
• Intra-state goods trucks movement restricted except for essential supplies. 
• Goods carrier to remain suspended except for medical and food services.
• All political, entertainment, cultural, religious gathering prohibited.
• All industries and manufacturing units will remain closed except for food and medical supplies and medical packaging services.
• All outdoor activities halted from 9pm to 5am. No movement of people and vehicles will be allowed.

Open:

• Essential emergency services will remain open. 
• Private vehicles for emergency services allowed 
• Metro services will operate only for those who are engaged in emergency services.
• Media, press to remain open 
• Private cars, taxis exempted from emergency essential services.
• Grocery shops, vegetables, milk, meat shops to operate from 7-10 am 
• Bazaars, markets selling vegetables, fruits, milk, bread to only remain open from 7-10am.
• Banks will operate from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm 
• Tea industry to function with 50 percent staff
• E commerce, home delivery open
• Automobile repair shops open.
• Marriage with 50 persons.
• Funeral with not more than 20 people
• Medical shops and optical shops will remain open as usual