West Bengal govt announces complete lockdown from May 16-30
In the wake of rising cases of the novel coronavirus, West Bengal on Saturday announced a complete lockdown from tomorrow till May 30. West Bengal on Friday registered its highest single-day spike of 20,846 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 10,94,802, the health department said in its bulletin. The toll rose to 12,993 after 136 more people, including five eminent doctors, succumbed to the infection, the bulletin said. Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy and his wife Krishna are among those who contracted the disease.
Roy, who is the saffron party's vice president, is currently undergoing home isolation, sources in the health department said.
Of the 136 deaths, 67 were due to comorbidities where COVID-19 was incidental.
Here's what will be allowed/restricted during the lockdown period
- All offices including govt & private will remain closed, except for emergency services
- Intra state bus services, metro, ferry service, gyms, cinema halls, salons, swimming pools will remain closed
- Retail shops will be allowed to remain open from 7-10 am
- Movement of private vehicles, taxis, buses, metro rail, suburban trains will not be allowed to operate during 15-day complete lockdown
- Academic, cultural, administrative, political and religious gatherings will remain prohibited
- No more than 50 people to be allowed in wedding functions
- Schools will remain closed
- Parks, zoo and sanctuaries will remain closed
- All outdoor activities, except emergency needs, will be prohibited from 9 pm till 5 am
COVID-19 situation in West Bengal
North 24 Parganas district accounted for 42 fatalities and Kolkata 34.
The five doctors who lost their lives are well-known pathologist Dr. Subir Kumar Dutta (90), renowned physician from Barasat, Dr. Utpal Sengupta (in his 70s), surgeon Dr. Satish Ghata (late 70s), Dr. Sandipan Mandal (37) of Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, and gynecologist Dr. Dilip Chakraborty.
At least 19,131 recuperated from the disease since Thursday, taking the total number of recoveries to 9,50,017.
The discharge rate stands at 86.78 per cent.
North 24 Parganas, too, recorded the highest one-day surge of 4,197 cases, while the city reported 3,955 new infections.
Accordingly, the number of active cases climbed to 1,31,792, the bulletin said.
As many as 1,13,09,467 samples have been tested in the state thus far, including 70,051 since Thursday, it added.
