West Bengal relaxes COVID-19 restrictions from June 1

The West Bengal government has decided to relax some of the restrictions imposed in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, from June 1. Among these are the opening of religious places, and a nod for full attendance at both government and non-government offices.

While announcing the relaxations on Friday (May 29), Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the number of infections is increasing in West Bengal due to the massive influx of migrant workers, and also criticised the Railways for not sending more migrant trains to the state.

She said that all places of worship will open from June 1. But not more than 10 persons will be allowed inside at a time. No major congregation will be allowed as well. All shops will be permitted to open from 10 am on June 1, but the whole area has to be sanitised.

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The chief minister further said that all government and non-government offices in the state will resume work with full strength from June 8. The tea and jute sectors will start work with 100 per cent workforce from June 1. Schools will, however, remain shut till June end.

Besides, all bus services will also resume with full occupancy. The existing ’20 passengers’ cap will no more be there. However, the passengers will have to compulsorily wear masks during the journey. On running of metro rails and passenger trains, the state government has, however, left the decision to the central government.

Banerjee, who has been criticising the Railways for the past few days for ferrying a large number of migrant workers to the state without consulting her government, claimed that it is being done without following the norms of social distancing.

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“Is the Railways running ‘Corona Express’ trains, instead of Shramik Special trains?” she asked and wondered why more trains are not being run for the migrant workers returning from other states. “The Railways is sending thousands of migrant workers in one train, why is it not allowing more trains for the migrants?” she asked.

The chief minister claimed West Bengal has been successful in controlling the spread of the virus in the last two months, and that cases are increasing now as people are coming from other states. During her announcement, she said the state’s revenue has dried up due to the lockdown. She also said that people will have to live with COVID-19.

Meanwhile, over hundred people were discharged from a hospital in Howrah district on Friday after they recovered from COVID-19, officials said. As ambulances carrying those recovered left the hospital compound in the evening, doctors, nurses and other frontline workers clapped wishing for their well-being.

(With inputs from agencies)