West Bengal extends Covid-19 regulations till September 30, outdoor activities restricted
West Bengal Covid-19 curbs: All outdoor activities, including the movement of people and vehicles, shall remain strictly prohibited between 11pm and 5am, the government said. However, all essential and emergency services will be allowed to continue unhindered.
The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government on Wednesday extended all the existing coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-related restrictions and relaxations till September 30. As the government protocols dictate, all outdoor activities -- including the movement of people and vehicles -- shall remain strictly prohibited in the state between 11pm and 5am. However, essential and emergency services will be allowed to continue unhindered during this period and beyond, the government clarified in an order.
In an official order issued from the West Bengal secretariat, Nabanna, the Trinamool Congress government notified that the Covid-19 restrictions and relaxation measures which are already in force are being extended till September 30.
“All outdoor activities, including the movement of people and vehicles, shall be strictly prohibited between 11pm and 5am except for health services, law and order, essential commodities, including agricultural produce and other emergency services,” the order read.
Moreover, citizens are to keep wearing masks at all times and maintain social distancing and all the usual coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-related health and hygiene protocols. The employers, management bodies, owners, and supervisors of all offices, establishments, and workplaces shall be responsible for provisioning Covid-19 safety measures, including the regular sanitisation of workplaces, the vaccination of employees for compliance with stated directives, and Covid-19 appropriate norms.
However, the West Bengal government also mentioned that employers must encourage work-from-home practices as far as possible.
The order noted that the executive committee of the West Bengal state disaster management authority had recommended that the Covid-19 restrictions be further extended in the state, in light of the prevailing pandemic situation. Thus, the present order, signed by the chief secretary of the state, extends the existing provisions for 15 more days.
An earlier order had kept these provisions – under the Disaster Management Act 2005 read with the West Bengal Epidemic Disease, Covid-19 Regulations 2020 – in effect till September 15.
