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As coronavirus cases top over 2.6 lakh in India today, the state of West Bengal has extended Covid-19 restrictions till January 31, 2022, but has allowed fairs to be organised on open grounds in a “very restricted manner".
"Restrictions and relaxation measures and advisory as already stand extended up to 31/01/2022. Marriage-related functions with a maximum of 200 people at a time or 50 per cent seating capacity of the hall/venue whichever is lower. Mela/fair may be allowed in open air venues in a very restricted manner, following COVID-19 protocols," the order issued by Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi said today.
Besides this, all outdoor activities, including movement of people and vehicle, will be prohibited between 10 PM and 5 AM at night. The essential activities -- health, law and order, transport of essential commodities -- will see no restrictions.
Before this, Dwivedi had also held a virtual meet with district administrators of Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Birbhum, amid an alarming surge in Covid cases. Five districts in particular have recorded a huge surge in Covid-19 cases.
He had asked district administrators to impose stricter curbs and ramp up vaccination in these districts to curbs the spread of coronavirus.
West Bengal on Friday reported 22,645 new COVID-19 cases, 822 less than the previous day, pushing its tally to 18,63,697. The state also reported twenty-eight more COVID-related deaths.
India registered 2,68,833 new Covid infections in a day taking the tally to 3,68,50,962, which includes 6,041 Omicron variant cases, according to the Union Health Ministry data on Saturday. With 402 more deaths, the number of people who have succumbed to the viral disease has risen to 4,85,752. The case fatality rate was 1.32 per cent.
Across the country, a total of 6,041 Omicron cases have been detected so far, an increase of 5.01 per cent since Friday.
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