Complete lockdown in 47 wards of Siliguri from July 23 for 7 days

Darjeeling district-level task force has extended a complete lockdown in 47 wards of Siliguri Municipal Corporation for seven more days, starting July 23 morning in view of the rising cases of COVID-19, Tourism Minister Goutam Deb said. During the lockdown, all government and private offices, commercial establishments, public and private transport as well as activities except emergency services will be barred. 

The movement of individuals will be strictly prohibited between 10 pm to 5 am on the three days except for essential and emergency activities.

The West Bengal government had on Monday said community transmission of novel coronavirus has been recorded in a few areas of the state and had announced there will be a complete lockdown for two days every week till August 31 to stem the spread of the contagion.

The state government order, issued this evening, said emergency services like fire, electricity, water and conservancy activities, health services including movement of health personnel, patients by public and private transport and pharmacies have been kept out of the purview of the lockdown.

Courts and correctional services, agricultural activities, operations at tea gardens, movement of intrastate and interstate goods besides home delivery of cooked food will be allowed to function as usual on the three lockdown days, it said.

Norms of physical distancing, wearing of masks, health and hygiene protocol must be strictly adhered to at all times, the government order added.

(With PTI inputs)