WB, Goa too opt for lockdown

Indo-Bhutan border at Jaigaon in N. Bengal sealed

Following the footsteps of several states, the West Bengal government on Saturday announced a shut down of all schools and colleges from March 16 to March 31 in the wake of upto the Covid-19 pandemic.

Only the board examinations like ongoing higher secondary examination have been exempted from the shutdown.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “It has been decided that all government, governmentaided, private educational institutions — schools, colleges, universities, Madarsas, Shishu Shiksha Kendras and Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras will remain closed from March 16 to March 31 in public interest.”

Several states including Kerala, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have already taken similar decision.

Ms Banerjee added, “The internal examinations of these institutions will also remain suspended during the said duration. However, the Board examinations will be held as per schedule.”

She said that the decision was taken “in view of the evolving situation on the spread of Covid-19, the advisories issues by WHO, the UN and the Central government and as a matter of abundant precaution to check its spread” in the state.

At present six persons with suspected symptoms of Covid-19 have been kept in isolation in a hospital while 1,977 more are under home surveillance among the 2,56,682 persons who have been screened in the state.

No one has tested positive so far.

In another move, the state government sealed the Indo-Bhutan border at Jaigaon in Alipurduar of North Bengal.

The district police, manning the entry point at the border at Jaigaon, halted goods and travellers’ movements from India to the neighbouring country from Friday evening after getting a notification from Bhutan for stopping tourist and business activities following Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile the services of two India-Bangladesh trains would remain suspended for one month.

The Eastern Railway stated that acting on the union health ministry’s advisory, “operation of existing Indo-Bangladesh cross border passenger train, i.e., Maitree and Bandhan passenger services shall remain suspended during the period March 15 to April 15 or till further orders whichever is earlier.”

The Goa government also on Saturday announced closure of educational institutes and public places including casinos, swimming pools and pubs in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country till March 31.

The order will come into force from Sunday (March 15) midnight.

No confirmed coronavirus case has been found in the coastal state.