Containment zones entered full lockdown from 5 p.m. Thursday (Performance)
Kolkata:
On Friday, West Bengal recorded a record high of 1,198 cases of COVID-19, although the second day of the lockdown in containment areas was generally effective with people staying inside and stores closed.
The total number of cases in the state stands at 27,109, while another 26 have died from the disease, bringing the number of deaths to 880, the health department said.
Large swathes of West Bengal wore an abandoned look on Friday, as most residents of the state’s 463 containment zones preferred to stay indoors.
The containment zones, located in 20 of the state’s 23 districts, were locked from 5 p.m. Thursday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the closure would be in effect for seven days, after which the future course of action would be decided.
Barricades have been erected outside the containment areas to restrict movement. Police patrol vehicles and those associated with the emergency services were seen in operation. In some areas, specialty stores have been allowed to do business for four hours.
Long queues were observed outside grocery stores and LPG outlets in the city and adjacent areas.
The police used light force in some locations to ensure that security protocols were followed, in addition to asking people through public address systems to stay inside.
The state government has stated that it will arrange for home delivery of essential items during the lockout period in containment areas.
Private and public vehicles remained off the roads in these areas while all commercial establishments, except those dealing with basic products, remained closed.
However, public transport was practically not affected in the city because the main arteries remained open.
The number of private buses, however, was slightly lower than on other days, as the majority of transport workers from neighboring districts were unable to get to work due to the lockdown of containment areas, said the secretary-general. from the Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, Tapan Banerjee. said.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma visited various parts of the city and asked his officers to ensure complete containment of the containment areas.
The government has grouped the containment zones with nearby buffer zones, officials said.
