2-day lockdown in Bengal every week
Kolkata: Apprehending the start of community transmission of COVID-19, the Bengal government on Monday announced imposing "complete lockdown" in the state on two days every week till August end.
However, strict lockdown in broad-based containment zones will continue as usual on the remaining days of the week.
In the current week, "complete lockdown" will be imposed across the state on Thursday and Saturday. It will be followed on Wednesday (July 29) the next week while the other day will be announced on Monday.
Restrictions across the state on these days will be imposed as per the norms of the "lockdown regime" in which no offices, establishments and the transport sector will be allowed to operate apart from the essential services. The decision to impose complete lockdown on two days a week comes when the state witnessed 2,282 new COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths in the past 24 hours taking the total number of positive cases to 17,916 while 1,535 people were released on Monday after being cured.
State Home Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said at Nabanna: "Spike in COVID-19 cases has surfaced and it is being assumed following discussions with scientists, experts and concerned authorities that some cases of community transmission are occurring. The work to break the chain needs to be done more strongly and imposing lockdown twice a week will ensure a sudden break, helping to get a better result."
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a high-level meeting on Monday at Nabanna before the Home Secretary's announcement on imposing complete lockdown on two days a week. The top brass of the state government including Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, Director General of Police Virendra, Commissioner of Kolkata Police Anuj Sharma, ADG (Law and Order) Gyanwant Singh and the Home Secretary along with senior health officials were present. There was a detailed discussion on inputs of the Health department in connection with the spike in COVID-19 cases. Opinions of bureaucrats, doctors and enforcement authorities were taken before deciding to impose the 2-day lockdown every week based "on revolving dynamic feedback".
The two days of complete lockdown in a week will be announced on every Monday after a high-level meeting.
Stating that strict lockdown, as usual, will continue at the containment zones on remaining days, Bandyopadhyay maintained: "The days of complete lockdown for the current week are being intimated in advance so that all offices, establishments, transport sector, etc can remain ready in advance."
The state government is also further developing the health infrastructure by adding more dedicated COVID-19 hospitals and safe homes. Currently, there are 81 COVID-19 hospitals including 27 state-run ones and more than 600 safe homes in the state. Steps have been taken to further improve the ambulance service and availability of oxygen at concerned places.
Bandyopadhyay has further stated that at present only 4 to 5 percent of COVID-19 patients are found to be seriously ill and 7 to 8 percent are in moderate condition. Mainly, these sections need to be hospitalised. The remaining 87 to 88 percent are asymptomatic and can stay in home isolation or safe homes unless the symptoms further aggravate.
The state government has also introduced Integrated Helpline numbers — 1800313444222 and 03323412600 — to assist people in the wake of the pandemic. There are 60 sets of telephones at Swasthya Bhawan to receive calls through these numbers. Dedicated helpline numbers for telemedicine (03323576001) and ambulance service for greater Kolkata (03340902929) have also been introduced.
Meanwhile, all banks in the state will, henceforth, function five days a week and remain shut on Saturdays and Sundays. Customer services will be provided on working days from 10 am to 2 pm.
