KOLKATA: Bengal government on Thursday withdrew all restrictions that were imposed two years ago in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. This will include lifting of night restrictions that till March 31 only allowed movement of vehicles for emergency and essential purposes between 12 midnight and 5 am.
The restrictions ceased to remain in force from Friday midnight. In a notification, the government, however, stressed on the use of masks and maintaining hygiene.
The notification allows malls and restaurants to operate in full capacity from now on. Earlier the state had allowed 75% occupancy from the end of January. Even the multiplexes can have full capacity and can screen movies late at night, as all restrictions had been withdrawn. However, in between the shows, the halls need to be sanitized and none should be allowed sans masks, an official said.
The state government earlier had set night restrictions from 10 pm to 5 am in January as there was the prevalence of Omicron variety of the virus, and in February the timings were changed to 12am-5am. In January the state government had asked for 50% workforce to be allowed in office. The directive issued on Thursday has only asked the employers to follow Covid safety norms, including regular sanitization of workplaces and Covid appropriate norms.
The Centre has advised the states to discontinue the issue of orders and guidelines under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The ongoing restrictions were part of the DM Act 2005 and West Bengal Epidemic Disease, Covid-19 Regulations 2020. Officials said they could still prosecute people for violating the mask and hygiene protocols under other penal provisions.
In Kolkata, in the two-year period, there has been seven lakh such prosecutions for violating the health protocols and restrictions.
The notification by the state chief secretary H K Dwivedi stated the state disaster management authority (SDMA), after reviewing the situation, and following the decline in positivity rate and overall improvement in the situation revoked the restrictions.
The notice read, "Accordingly, it is hereby notified that restrictions as currently in force by aforesaid orders are hereby withdrawn. However, advisory in respect of health and hygiene protocol including wearing of masks at all times, hand hygiene and sanitization of public places shall continue to be strictly observed until further orders." The district administration had been asked to ensure strict compliance of health and hygiene protocols and Covid advisories.
Kolkata Police said they would be out on roads from 9 pm till early morning to carry out drink driving checks.
