Covid-19: West Bengal to impose complete lockdown from July 9

In view of surging coronavirus cases, the West Bengal government tonight decided to go for total lockdown in wider areas from July 9 which would result in shutting of transport movement, shops and industrial activities there.

Under the fresh curbs, the containment zones -- areas with high cases of Covid-19 -- and buffer zones around them, which are free from restrictions, will be merged to form a wider geographical location where total lockdown would be enforced from Thursday evening.

Local authorities will try and arrange home delivery of essential commodities for inhabitants of these areas.

The entry and exit of people from these proposed "total lockdown" sites would be regulated.

"These broader containment zones may be subjected to strict lockdown and all offices, government and private, all non-essential activities, congregations, transportations and all marketing, industrial and trading activities [will] be closed," an order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Alapan Bandyopadhyay said.

It, however, did not mention how long the fresh spell of the shutdown will last.

The current phase of lockdown, in force till July 31, was largely limited to containment zones alone.

Kolkata is the worst-hit by the contagion in the state. Of the 861 cases reported from the state on Monday, Kolkata recorded 281.

West Bengal, which is among the top 10 worst-affected Indian states, has close to 23,000 Covid-19 cases and 779 deaths.

The state government had earlier announced total shutdown in parts of Malda district in the state from tomorrow.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already said flights to West Bengal from Covid-19 hotspots like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Nagpur and Ahmedabad would be suspended till July 19.