Spike in COVID-19 cases leads govt to impose fresh lockdown in containment & buffer zones in Bengal from July 9

An unprecedented hike in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases has led the West Bengal government impose fresh lockdown in the containment and buffer zones of the state. The stricture will be imposed from July 9.

People won’t be able to leave homes in the containment and buffer zones, and offices in these areas will remain closed as well. All activities except essential services will remain open in these areas.

There were indications of this for the past few days as the number of COVID-19 cases has especially gone up in the past few days this week – with over 800 new cases reported each day for the past two days. There were over 700 new cases the day before that. Total number of cases in West Bengal increased to 22,987 on July 6, with the total number of deaths reaching 779.

While the discharge rate has been a steady 66.27 per cent, the main reason for worry has been Kolkata and its surrounding districts Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas districts, apart from Hooghly. The number of cases in Kolkata has increased to 7,389, with another 3,941 cases reported from North 24 Parganas, 1,553 from South 24 Parganas, and 3,218 cases from Howrah. Another 1,236 cases were reported from Hooghly district. Malda too, reported high number of cases – 859 – though it is lower compared to the areas in and around Kolkata.

Officials had been indicating that there won’t be a total lockdown throughout the state the way it was imposed earlier.

Check out the full list of the containment zones and buffer zones across West Bengal here.