Bengal govt decides to lock down the entire state from tomorrow to prevent COVID-19

Kolkata, 22 March (HS); Once again quickly responding to the present critical situation, the West Bengal government today announced its decision to ‘lockdown’ the entire state for the next five days from tomorrow till 27 March as an ‘extreme measure’ to prevent the spread of deadly Coronavirus in the state. Informing this quoting a government notification here this afternoon said as the entire state was successfully observing the ‘Janta Curfew’, as desired by Prime minister Narendra Modi, the decision to lock down the entire state including in Kolkata and in all 23 districts, was taken after a high-level meeting between the union Cabinet Secretary and the state Chief Secretary after reviewing the latest situation and following reports of more people getting affected by the killer disease in the state. 

The notification stated that as part of the Locked-down measures the entire transportation system in the state would remain suspended and canceled during the next five days beginning tomorrow at 4.p.m. including those of all types of railways including the Kolkata Metro Rail, besides intracity and interstate bus services, taxis, private or government vehicles, steamer, and launch services in the river Ganges along with all inbound and outbound flights from any airport in the state. All private, corporate and government offices along with all educational and other institutions would also remain closed as part of the locked-down processes, the notification said, However, at the same time it has assured the people that all shops, markets for the purchase of daily essentials, pharmacies and other business establishments for day to day purchases would remain open as usual. it has also urged the people to avoid all sorts of social or any other gathering at all costs. ‘It is not the time to play cricket or football on empty streets like any Bandh day’,  the notification stated and urged the people to do their daily business or purchase at the shortest possible time and return home to stay indoors during the remaining period preferably in isolated manners.’ There is no need for panic’, the government order said and urged the people to stay calm and take maximum protection to avoid getting affected by COVID-19 by any means.