Covid-19 surge: West Bengal imposes partial lockdown until further notice

The West Bengal government tonight imposed a partial lockdown in the state with immediate effect amid mounting cases of Covid-19. 

The government ordered shutting down of all shopping malls, beauty parlours, cinema halls, restaurants and bars, sports complexes, gyms, spas and swimming pools to curb the spread of coronavirus.

However, home delivery of goods and online services will be allowed to function, a government order issued by state Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay added.

The curbs will remain in place until further orders, it said.

Gatherings of all kinds, including those for social, cultural, academic or entertainment purposes will be banned, the order said, adding markets would be open from 7:00am to 10:00am and 3:00pm to 5:00pm on all days.

However, medical shops and grocery shops can remain open at times other than the specified time period, the order said.

West Bengal recorded the highest single-day Covid-19 deaths of 96 people and 17,411 new cases, according to the state health department.