Lockdown 4.0: Mamata Banerjee divides containment zones into three parts, reopens market partially
Kolkata/UNI/IBNS: As India entered into the fourth phase of the lockdown to combat COVID-19 outbreak, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced guidelines to be followed in the state further dividing the containment zones into three parts.
Urging everyone to follow norms, Banerjee told media that the containment zones have been divided into three parts - Part A is the affected zone, B is the buffer zone and C is the clean zone.
"Big shops will open from May 21, except for those in containment zones, " she informed.
The Centre extended the lockdown till May 31 and issued guidelines on Sunday.
Banerjee said she will not be using the word 'curfew', as directed by the Centre to be followed between 7 pm to 7 am, during the fourth phase of the lockdown but asked people to follow the restrictions.
"The Centre has asked us to impose curfew from 7 PM to 7 AM. But we will anyway be in lockdown and so I don’t want to impose the curfew word on people," she told media.
"The Home Secretary, Municipality Secretaries, Police will come up with a plan with Market Committees before May 27 regarding Hawkers' markets, which will open on an odd-even basis. Social distancing, masks, gloves are compulsory, " she said.
"All markets will be sanitised, " she stated.
"We will not implement any curfew. Lockdown will continue. Private offices can work with up to 50 per cent, even those inside shopping malls, " Banerjee added.
"Inter-district buses from May 21. Auto will take two people from May 27. Sporting activities can take place without any gatherings. Beauty parlours, salons can open but there should be sanitisation of all equipment," Banerjee said.
"16 trains have already returned to Bengal. Between 2.5-3 lakh people have come back to Bengal via various other means," she said.
She urged all states to take care of people from West Bengal.
"Be a little patient. Don’t politicise this issue. I request all States to take care of our people. We want to bring back everyone but cannot bring back everyone in one day. We have a plan in place, let us execute it. Within the next 2-3 days we will ask for 120 more trains," she said.
"Whoever is coming back to Kolkata should come after informing us. Don’t come between 7 PM and 7 AM," she said.
"We will train locals for seven days to put saline, give oxygen support or check temperatures to help with the crisis. How will the hospitals work if nurses are leaving?" she said.
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