Restrictions in West Bengal extended till July 15: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today announced that restrictions imposed in the state to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease have been extended till July 15.

She has, however, allowed public transport like buses and autos to be back on the road with a 50 percent capacity but said drivers and conductors should be vaccinated, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Gyms can also open with a 50 percent capacity between 6am-10am and 4pm-8pm while salons and beauty parlours can function from 11am-6pm at 50 percent strength and the entire staff should be vaccinated, Mamata told the media in Kolkata.

The chief minister further said that government and public offices may now allow 50% employees against the previously announced capacity of 20%, and function from 10am-4pm local time.

Markets and vegetable vendors, the chief minister said, can open an extra hour from 6am-12pm, adding that other shops can remain open from 11am-8pm.

However, suburban train operations will remain suspended for now, she added.

Lockdown-like Covid-19 restrictions had earlier been extended in the state till July 1 after being first imposed on May 16.

Phased easing of curbs were announced as West Bengal's daily Covid-19 caseload began witnessing a decline.

On Sunday, a total of 1,836 people tested positive for coronavirus while 29 lives were lost due to it, taking its cumulative Covid-19 infection tally to 1,494,949 including a related death toll of 17,612, a health department bulletin showed.