West Bengal | Covid-19
COVID-19: West Bengal allows local trains with 50% capacity, relaxes 'night restrictions' for major festivals
Kolkata/IBNS: The West Bengal government on Friday announced to allow intra-state suburban local train services from Sunday (Oct 31) with 50 percent of its seating capacity, while it said schools for classes 9 to 12, colleges and universities will open from Nov 16, strictly adhering to Covid-19-related precautions and guidelines.
Besides extending the anti-Covid restrictions up to Nov 30, the state government has relaxed the ongoing night restrictions between 11 pm. to 5 am. for upcoming major festivals.
"Restriction relating to movement of people and vehicles between 11 pm. to 5 am. shall continue to be in force but shall be relaxed for Kali Puja and Diwali during Nov 2-5, and for Chhat Puja during Nov 10-11," an order from the state government read.
The Bengal government said cinema, theatre halls, auditoriums, stadiums, shopping malls, market complexes, restaurants, bars, spas and gyms will be allowed to operate with 70 percent of capacity at a time as per normal operation hours but not beyond 11 pm.
"All government offices related to non-emergency and non-essential services shall now function with 50 percent of total strength, and government offices related to emergency and essential services shall continue to function with full strength," according to the order.
West Bengal said coaching centres for competitive exams may remain open with 70 percent of its capacity at a time.
The government has also allowed indoor social gatherings, including marriage ceremonies, shootings for films and TV programmes, and radio recording activities, with 70 percent of the capacity of the hall or venue.
"Outdoor activities for all permissible activities including shooting for films and TV programmes will be allowed with adherence to physical distancing and Covid appropriate protocols," the government order added.
Meanwhile, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday has banned the use and sale of all kinds of firecrackers, including the 'green crackers', during the upcoming festivals- Kali puja, Diwali, Chhat puja, Christmas and New Year's eve- as the Covid-19 cases are rising in the state.
West Bengal on Friday night reported 982 fresh cases of Covid-19, eight deaths and 860 discharges in the last 24 hours, with a positivity rate of 2 percent.
There are 8223 active patients in Bengal while the state capital, Kolkata, keeps reporting the highest number of Covid cases, according to a bulletin issued by WB health department.
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