West Bengal Govt. issues additional restrictions to be followed in the State till 15th January, 2022; private offices and establishments to function with 50% of employees at a time; effective since 03.01.2022

In continuation to earlier COVID-19 Orders (please refer to the trailing e-mails), the Government of West Bengal has notified the following additional restrictions which will remain in force up to 15th January, 2022.

1. All private offices and establishments are required to function with maximum of 50% existing employee strength at a time. Work from home should be encouraged as far as possible;

2. Movement of people and vehicles and public gatherings of any kind shall be prohibited between 10 PM to 5 AM. Only essential and emergency services shall be permitted.

3. Metro services shall operate with 50% seating capacity as per usual operational time. Local/suburban trains shall operate with 50% seating capacity up to 10 PM

4. Swimming pools, spas, gyms, beauty parlours, salons and wellness centers will remain closed;

5. All entertainment parks, zoos, tourist places will remain closed;

6. Shopping malls and market complexes may function with restricted entry of people by not exceeding 50 % of the capacity at a time and up to 10pm;

7. Restaurants and bars may operate with 50% of capacity at a time and up to 10 PM;

8. Cinema halls and theatre halls may operate with 50% of seating capacity at a time and up to 10 PM;

9. Meetings and conferences shall be allowed with a maximum of 200 people at a time or 50% seating capacity of the hall, whichever is lower;

10. Not more than 50 persons at a time shall be allowed for any social, religious and cultural gatherings;

11. Not more than 50 persons shall be allowed for marriage related ceremonies;

12. Not more 20 persons shall be allowed for funeral/ burial services and last rites;

13. All academic activities in schools, colleges and universities will remain closed. Only administrative activities shall be permitted with 50% of employees at a time;

14. Meetings and conferences will be allowed with a maximum of 200 people at a time or 50% seating capacity of the hall, whichever is lower;

Further, please note:

1. Employers/ management bodies / owners / supervisors of all offices, establishments and work places will be responsible for provisioning of all COVID safety measures including regular sanitization of work places, vaccination of employees and for compliance of stated directives and COVID appropriate norms. Work from home shall be encouraged as far as possible and practical;

2. Wearing of masks, maintenance of physical distancing and health & hygiene protocol must be followed at all times;

3. Management of industries, factories, mills, tea gardens and other establishments must ensure strict compliance of COVID appropriate norms including wearing of masks, regular sanitization of work places and only double vaccinated workers shall be allowed to enter the work sites;

4. All government and private hospitals are advised to review the arrangements and facilities for treatment of COVID in the hospitals so that timely and proper treatment can be given to those needing hospitalization;

5. Asymptomatic people with Covid positive test results are advised to go for home isolation and monitor their health;

6. Home delivery of food and other essential products shall be allowed as per usual operational hours following proper COVID appropriate care and protocols;

7. At least 50 % of the institutional quarantine facilities as were existing during the 2 nd wave of COVID pandemic should be made operational;

8. Like in first two COVID pandemic waves, various Chambers of Commerce and Trade organizations may adopt different market places and ensure regular sanitization and COVID appropriate health and hygiene protocols. Norms of physical distancing should be strictly enforced and people without masks shall not be allowed to enter the markets.

Penalty:

District administration, police Commissionerates and local authorities will ensure strict compliance of the stated directives. Any violation of the restriction measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and under Indian Penal Code.

Background:

In light of the current situation of COVID-19 pandemic and the concerns due to high rate of infectivity and multiple cases of a new COVID-19 variant “Omicron”, State Executive Committee of West Bengal State Disaster Management Authority has issued the present Order.

A copy of the Order is linked below for reference.

Source: Government of West Bengal