Lockdown in containment zones extended in Bengal till August 31, biweekly curbs to continue

CM Mamata Banerjee said schools and colleges will remain closed till August 31 and a decision on their reopening will be taken in September.

Workers hang masks for drying at garments factory converted to manufacture protective masks amid the coronavirus pandemic in Kolkata Tuesday July 28 2020. (Photo | PTI)

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Tuesday that the lockdown in the containment zones of the state will continue till August 31 as also the biweekly restrictions in place to check the spread of the coronavirus disease.

Addressing a press conference, Banerjee said schools and colleges will remain closed till August 31 and a decision on their reopening will be taken in September.

"The lockdown in containment zones will continue till August 31. The biweekly total lockdown across the state will also remain in place till the end of next month," Banerjee said.

Total lockdown will be imposed on August 2, 5, 8, 9, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 31, Banerjee said.

"The biweekly lockdown will be implemented mostly on Saturdays and Sundays. But since festivals like Eid as also Independence Day are happening on Saturdays, lockdown will be enforced on some other day," she said.

The decision to enforce biweekly lockdown was taken earlier this month amid suspected community transmission in some parts of the state.

The state had reported over 60,000 COVID-19 cases till Monday.