Bengal lifts Covid curbs, mask use to stay
Kolkata: After a consistent decline in fresh Covid cases, the Bengal government has decided to end all containment measures and restrictions from April 1 recommending the continuation of wearing of masks, maintaining hand hygiene and sanitation of premises for the time being.
A notification in this regard was issued by state Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi on Thursday that read: "…State Executive Committee (SEC) of West Bengal State Disaster Management Authority after a review of the current situation of COVID-19 pandemic observed that in view of the overall decline in total caseload and positivity rate and overall improvement in the situation, the restrictions imposed under the Disaster Management Act 2005 read with West Bengal Epidemic Disease, Covid-19 Regulations 2020 can now be revoked. The SEC further recommended that the health and hygiene protocols must however continue to remain in force."
There were restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles and public gatherings from midnight till 5 am till March 31. Only essential and emergency services were permitted during this period.
However, the notification issued on Thursday stated: "It is hereby notified that restrictions as currently in force by aforesaid orders are hereby withdrawn. However, advisory in respect of health and hygiene protocols including wearing of masks at all times, hand hygiene and sanitization of public places shall continue to be strictly observed until further orders."
It added: "Employers, management bodies, owners and supervisors of all offices, establishments and work places shall be responsible for provisioning of all COVID safety measures including regular sanitization of work places and COVID appropriate norms."
The district administration, police commissionerates and local authorities shall ensure strict compliance with health and hygiene protocols and advisory on Covid appropriate behaviour.
The withdrawal of the restrictions came almost two years after the pandemic struck in March 2020.
