West Bengal lockdown extended till June 15: Here's what is allowed, what remains shut

Kolkata, May 27: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday extended the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions till June 15, saying that the curbs have helped ease the pandemic situation.

The West Bengal government had announced the existing restrictions for 15 days from May 16 following a huge surge in the number of coronavirus cases.

The announcement for extension of the curbs came three days before they were scheduled to come to an end.

"The Covid-19 restrictions in the state will continue till June 15. This is not a lockdown or a curfew. We will strictly follow the restrictions."It's a relief to see that the ongoing restrictions have helped in easing the situation a little," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat 'Nabanna'.

Essential services will continue operating following protocols, the chief minister said adding that all the ongoing restrictions would continue till June 15.

"We will see that the state's economy is not disturbed," Banerjee said. She allowed the jute industry to work with a 40 per cent workforce in place of the existing 30 per cent following rising demand for jute bags from Punjab. Banerjee also said that work in the construction sector could be allowed provided labourers are vaccinated by companies for whom they work.

"Construction companies must arrange for inoculation of labourers to carry out works," she said.
"We have already started vaccinating hawkers, vegetable vendors, fish sellers, rickshaw drivers, bus conductors and drivers," she said.

West Bengal COVID-19 curbs extended: Full list of what is allowed, what is notWhat's allowed and what's not in Bengal:

• All offices and educational institutions will be shut, as well as transport services, including the metro. Petrol pumps and banks will operate from 10 am to 2 pm.
• Grocery stores and shops selling essential items will stay open between 7 and 10 am. Shops selling sweets, including traditional Bengali sweetmeats, can open from 10 am to 5 pm.
• All emergency services will be allowed, as will home deliveries and other online services.
• Industries will be closed but tea gardens can function, although at 50% strength only.
• No cultural, political, academic, administrative or religious events and functions will be allowed during this period. No outdoor congregations will be permitted between 9 pm and 5 am.
• Shopping complexes, beauty parlours, cinema halls, sports facilities and restaurants were shut indefinitely on 1 May.
• A maximum of 50 guests are allowed at weddings.

Some of the F&Qs are:

Have the COVID-19 curbs been extended in West Bengal?

Yes until June 15

Will essential services be allowed?

Yes

Are there any new rules for the jute industry?

They can work with 40 per cent staff capacity

What about construction sector?

Work can go on provided labourers are vaccinated by the companies

Will government and private offices operate?

No

Will shopping complexes and malls be open?

No

Will bars and pubs remain open?

No

Will sports complexes remain open?

No

Will beauty parlours remain open?

No

Will movement of private vehicles, taxis and auto-rickshaws be allowed?

No, except to ferry people to hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, clinics, vaccination centres and airports.

Will local trains, intra-state bus services and inland water transport services be allowed?

No, except for trucks carrying medical supplies, oxygen, essential food commodities

What about e-commerce services?

E-commerce for home delivery services of all commodities shall be allowed.

Will banks remain open?

Only between 10 am and 2 pm

Will ATMs remain open?

Yes

Will Petrol pumps, auto repair shops, LPG gas offices and distribution centres remain open?

Yes

Will sweetmeat shops remain open?

Yes, between 10 am and 5 pm

Will jewellery and saree shops remain open?

Yes between noon and 3 pm

What about gatherings - administrative, entertainment, political, cultural, and religious?

It is not allowed

Will tea gardens be allowed to operate?

Tea gardens will be allowed to operate with 50 per cent workforce in each shift