<p>The West Bengal Government on Saturday imposed lockdown-like restrictions till May 30, shutting down bus, metro, taxi, auto-rickshaw and ferry services along with all government and private offices, with the exception of those related to emergency services.</p>.<p>The curbs will come into force from 6 am on Sunday.</p>.<p>Local train services, schools, colleges, spas, shopping malls and gyms were already closed in the state.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/lockdown-in-west-bengal-whats-allowed-whats-not-986144.html" target="_blank">Lockdown in West Bengal: What's allowed, what's not</a></strong></p>.<p>Speaking to reporters at the State Secretariat, Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said that all factories with the exception of those related to medicine and medical equipment will remain closed till May 30.</p>.<p>All kinds of educational institutions such as schools, colleges, universities and Anganwadi centres will remain closed. Apart from those related to essential services such as healthcare, veterinary services, media, law and order and courts, all Government and private offices will remain closed.</p>.<p>While places of public gatherings such as shopping complexes, malls, market complexes, cinema halls and restaurants will remain closed, retail shops and bazaars related products to milk, bread, fruits and groceries will remain open from 7 am to 10 am. Pharmacies and optical stores have been exempted from the restrictions.</p>.<p>The movement of private vehicles, taxis and auto-rickshaws will also be prohibited except to and from hospitals, healthcare facilities, media houses, vaccination centres and airports. <br />Barring oxygen, medical supplies and food products all intra-state movement of trucks and goods carriers will be prohibited. Service hours of banks have been restricted from 10 am to 2 pm.</p>.<p>While all kinds of gatherings will be banned, marriage functions with a maximum of 50 persons and funerals with a maximum of 20 persons will be allowed.</p>.<p>“Any violation of the orders will attract strict legal actions,” said the Chief Secretary. The order stated that any violation of the restriction will be prosecuted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the IPC.</p>.<p>The state government has also <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/bengal-board-exams-for-class-10-12-postponed-revised-schedule-to-be-announced-later-986239.html" target="_blank">postponed </a>the class X and XII State Board examinations.</p>.<p>The development comes at a time when the state has been recording more than 20,000 cases for the last few days.</p>
<p>The West Bengal Government on Saturday imposed lockdown-like restrictions till May 30, shutting down bus, metro, taxi, auto-rickshaw and ferry services along with all government and private offices, with the exception of those related to emergency services.</p>.<p>The curbs will come into force from 6 am on Sunday.</p>.<p>Local train services, schools, colleges, spas, shopping malls and gyms were already closed in the state.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/lockdown-in-west-bengal-whats-allowed-whats-not-986144.html" target="_blank">Lockdown in West Bengal: What's allowed, what's not</a></strong></p>.<p>Speaking to reporters at the State Secretariat, Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said that all factories with the exception of those related to medicine and medical equipment will remain closed till May 30.</p>.<p>All kinds of educational institutions such as schools, colleges, universities and Anganwadi centres will remain closed. Apart from those related to essential services such as healthcare, veterinary services, media, law and order and courts, all Government and private offices will remain closed.</p>.<p>While places of public gatherings such as shopping complexes, malls, market complexes, cinema halls and restaurants will remain closed, retail shops and bazaars related products to milk, bread, fruits and groceries will remain open from 7 am to 10 am. Pharmacies and optical stores have been exempted from the restrictions.</p>.<p>The movement of private vehicles, taxis and auto-rickshaws will also be prohibited except to and from hospitals, healthcare facilities, media houses, vaccination centres and airports. <br />Barring oxygen, medical supplies and food products all intra-state movement of trucks and goods carriers will be prohibited. Service hours of banks have been restricted from 10 am to 2 pm.</p>.<p>While all kinds of gatherings will be banned, marriage functions with a maximum of 50 persons and funerals with a maximum of 20 persons will be allowed.</p>.<p>“Any violation of the orders will attract strict legal actions,” said the Chief Secretary. The order stated that any violation of the restriction will be prosecuted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the IPC.</p>.<p>The state government has also <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/bengal-board-exams-for-class-10-12-postponed-revised-schedule-to-be-announced-later-986239.html" target="_blank">postponed </a>the class X and XII State Board examinations.</p>.<p>The development comes at a time when the state has been recording more than 20,000 cases for the last few days.</p>
