Kolkata: The alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in West Bengal forced the state government to introduce stringent guidelines on Sunday.
For starters, flights from West Bengal to Omicron hotspots Delhi and Mumbai and vice-versa will operate only twice a week – on Mondays and Fridays.
“West Bengal to operate flights from Delhi and Mumbai only twice a week, which will be on Monday and Friday, with effect from January 5,” the state’s Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi announced.
West Bengal has reported a 10-fold rise in COVID-positive cases in the last 6 days, with 4,512 infections being reported in the last 24 hours including 2,398 in Kolkata.
Night curfew, which had been relaxed in the Christmas-New Year week, has been reintroduced from 10 pm to 5 am, with only essential and emergency services being permitted.
All educational institutions will be shut from January 3, while government and private offices will operate with 50% workforce.
Following are other significant restrictions:
* All schools, colleges, universities, spas, salons, beauty parlours, swimming pools, zoos and entertainment parks will remain closed until further notice from January 3, 2022
* Local trains in West Bengal will run with 50% capacity till 7 pm in the evening; however, all long-distance trains will run as per schedule
* All tourist places in the state will remain closed from Jan 3
* A maximum of 50 people will be allowed for marriage-related ceremonies and other religious and cultural programmes
* A maximum of 20 people will allowed for funeral/burial services and last rites
* Metro services will operate with 50% seating capacity.
