Bengal Relaxes Covid Curbs Further, Cinemas Get Nod To Open

Ban on vehicular movement between 9 pm and 5 am will continue to be in force. The new set of guidelines will remain in force till August 15

Further relaxing the curbs put in place during the second wave of the Covid pandemic, the West Bengal government gave a go-ahead to cinema halls to open up from Saturday. For now, the cinema halls can host guests up to 50 per cent capacity. As per the new set of guidelines that will remain in force till August 15, government events can now be held at indoor venues. The number of guests who can attend these events has been capped at 50 per cent of the venue's capacity. The ban on vehicular movement between 9 pm and 5 am, except for those engaged in emergency services, will continue to be in force. From July 16, the Metro rail in Kolkata has been allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity on weekends. Buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws, too, have been allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity.