Schools, colleges closed, offices to run with 50% staff in Bengal as Covid cases spike | Details

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The West Bengal government on Sunday announced fresh Covid-19 curbs in light of the rising Omicron cases, as well as cases of the Covid-19 infection in the state. All schools, colleges, universities, spas, salons, beauty parlors, zoos, and entertainment parks will be closed in the state from tomorrow, said West Bengal Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi.

Here's all you need to know:

1. Local trains in Kolkata will operate from Monday with 50% capacity and only till 7 pm. Long-distance trains will operate as per their usual schedule.
2. Parlours and gyms will remain shut across the state apart from schools, colleges, universities, and entertainment parks. The galleries and gardens of the Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata as well as the Projection Mapping show each evening, will remain closed from Jan 3 until further orders.
3. All government and private offices will operate at 50% capacity, whereas all administrative meetings will be conducted via the virtual mode.
4. Only essential services are permitted from 10 am to 5 pm in the state.
5. All shopping malls and markets would be allowed to remain open till 10 pm but with half their capacities.
6. Flights from Mumbai and New Delhi will ply only twice a week on Monday and Friday, with effect from January 5. Additionally, no flights from the UK will be allowed for the time being.
7. Cinema halls and theatres have been allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity.
8. Meetings and conferences have been allowed with a maximum of 200 people at a time or 50 per cent capacity of the hall, whichever is lower.
9. Not more than 50 persons shall be allowed in weddings, and only 20 persons will be allowed during funeral and burial services.
10. The restrictions will be imposed in the state from tomorrow (January 3).

West Bengal's Omicron tally has risen to 20 after it recorded 2 new cases on Saturday. The restrictions were imposed after a persistent spike in Covid cases in West Bengal. On Saturday, it reported 4,512 fresh infections, 1,061 more than the previous day's figure, with Kolkata accounting for 2,398 fresh cases.

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People in large numbers gathered at popular tourist spots in Kolkata and elsewhere in West Bengal to celebrate the new year on Saturday, while Covid-19 cases are rising alarmingly in the state. 

Though the number of people appears to be less compared to that during Christmas day, the police had a tough time controlling the crowd and making them follow Covid-19 preventive protocols such as wearing masks and maintaining physical distance, news agency PTI reported.

Also Read: Haryana: Cinema halls, pools shut in 5 districts including Gurgaon amid Omicron scare | Top Points