On Saturday, West Bengal recorded 144 new deaths related to COVID-19, the highest number since the outbreak began, while the proportion of coronavirus tests that came back positive also hit an all-time high of 9.8%.
After 10 days, the number of regular infections had dropped below 20,000, with 19,511 new cases identified. So far, the state has recorded 13,137 deaths and more than 11 lakh lawsuits.
There were 3,951 new cases registered in Kolkata, with 30 deaths. There were 4,279 cases and 35 deaths in the North 24 Parganas district.
In the last 24 hours, over 19,000 patients have been registered as recovered in Bengal, bringing the total number of active cases to 1,31,948.
According to a health department bulletin, 66,563 samples have been screened in the state since Friday.
The figures come on the same day that the West Bengal government declared a full lockdown from Sunday to May 30 in order to combat the spread of COVID-19, which includes prohibiting vehicular traffic and other types of gatherings.
The lockout will last from 6 a.m. on Sunday to 6 p.m. on May 30th, according to Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay.
Except for those pertaining to emergency and critical facilities, such as hospitals, law and order, courts, electricity, drinking water, and media, all government and private offices, shopping centres, malls, restaurants, sports complexes, pubs, cinema halls, and beauty parlours will be closed during this period.
According to the top government official, individual cars, taxis, and autorickshaws would be banned from moving except to and from clinics, medical and vaccine centres, airports, and media outlets.
For the 15-day shutdown period, all intra-state local trains, bus lines, metro railways, and inland water transport will be closed, with the exception of emergency and critical services staff,” Mr Bandyopadhyay said.
Petrol stations, car repair stores, LPG gas offices, and distribution centres will stay open, according to him, while banks will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sweet shops, which are an important aspect of the state’s gastronomy, will be permitted to open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and jewellery and saree shops will be allowed to open between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. All goods will be able to be sold via e-commerce and delivered to customers’ homes.
Since the first week of April, a spike in coronavirus cases has occurred in West Bengal, coinciding with the eight-phase assembly elections and political party campaigning.
