COVID-19: Bengal postpones HS examinations, shuts down restaurants, bars, nightclubs, parlours
Kolkata/IBNS: In the wake of the massive jump in positive Novel Coronavirus cases across the country, the West Bengal government on Saturday postponed the ongoing Higher Secondary examinations till Apr 15 and shut down restaurants, bars, nightclubs and parlours, media reports said.
The three remaining examinations were scheduled to be held on Mar 23, 25 and 27.
The new dates will be declared after Apr 15.
West Bengal has reported its third positive case on Saturday.
The third patient, who has now been isolated at Beliaghata ID Hospital, has a travel history to Scotland.
Across the country, 271 people have so far been infected with Maharashtra reporting the most of them (63).
In an interaction with a local news channel, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting via video conference to enforce surveillence in railways and close all international flights.
Banerjee said, "I have urged the Prime Minister to enforce surveillance who are travelling by trains. People are coming to the country and undertaking train journeys. In West Bengal, all the infected people have travel history to the foreign countries.
I am urging all people who are coming from the foreign nations to stay isolated at home."
"I have urged Prime Minister to stop international flights repeatedly. Borders and international matters are not under our control. They are controlled by the Centre.
I am not opposed to the transportation of essential materials to and from the states. But why should we allow transportation of extra things," the Chief Minister added and once again urged people to stay at home.
The Centre has already stated no international commercial flights will be allowed to land in the country for a week beginning on Mar 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a "Janata Curfew" from 7 am to 9 pm on Sunday to combat COVID-19.
The Mamata Banerjee government has taken a slew of measures as the virus has kept the country on edge for the last few weeks.
All government, government-aided and private educational institutions have been closed till Apr 15 by the state.
On Tuesday, West Bengal Minister Aroop Biswas announced that all shootings for Bengali films, television serials and digital contents shall remain suspended between Mar 18 and 30.
In a major step, the West Bengal government invoked provisions of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, so that no patient can escape while undergoing treatment for Coronavirus.
Also a 200-cr fund has been created to fight the disease.
On Wednesday, Banerjee announced that the government employees can leave office by 4 pm to avoid the rush while going back home.
(Image: Representative, Credit: Wikipedia)
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