What’s on & what’s off with Covid curbs easing from Thursday

Markets open longer, gyms and salons can run with 50 per cent capacity

Government buses lined up at the Bidhannagar depot on Wednesday.: Picture by Bishwarup Dutta

Special Correspondent   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |   01.07.21: Public transport, barring trains and Metro, is set to be back from Thursday following some relaxations in the Covid-19 curbs announced a couple of days ago. Gyms and salons have also been green-lighted to resume operations in a curtailed manner and the timings of markets and retail shops have been extended.

The number of vehicles could be on the lower side on Day 1 because it is a state holiday. July 1, the birth anniversary of Bidhan Chandra Roy, celebrated as doctors’ day, has been declared a state holiday as a mark of respect to healthcare workers’ contribution to the fight against Covid-19.

Here’s a primer on what’s on and what’s off from Thursday:

Transport

The state government has decided to partially lift the ban on public transport by allowing them to run with 50 per cent passenger capacity. But the spiralling fuel prices have cast a shadow on the resumption of private buses and taxis.

Around 500 of the government’s fleet of 1,100 buses in Calcutta are expected to be on the road with the relaxation of curbs. But a significant section of the 7,500-odd private buses are expected to keep off the roads. Several taxi operators, bleeding because of the diesel price, are also likely to stay off the roads.

In the absence of enough buses and taxis, autos are likely to be the saviour.

Markets

Shops selling vegetables, fish, meat, groceries, fruits, milk and eggs can remain open between 6am and noon. Till now, they were allowed to open from 7am to 11am.

Retail

All other retail shops, including those in malls, can open from 11am to 8pm, instead of 6pm. The existing condition on stores in malls and shopping complexes remains — 25 per cent workforce and 30 per cent visitor capacity.

Gyms

Gyms can open in two slots — 6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm — from Thursday. They have to operate with a cap of 50 per cent visitors in each session. Shut for two months, many gyms in the city have downed shutters for good. The ones that are likely to open are sceptical about the footfall. “Our membership is dwindling. People are seeking refunds,” said the owner of a gym in south Calcutta.

Salons

Salons and beauty parlours can open between 11am and 6pm at 50 per cent capacity.

Social assembly

A cap of 50 people for weddings and 20 for funerals.

Night curfew

Remains from 9pm to 5am

What’s off

Suburban railway

Metro Railway

Schools and colleges

Cinema halls

Swimming pools

Spas