PATNA: Bihar government on Tuesday announced to lift the lockdown clamped over a month ago, from Wednesday.
A decision in this regard was taken in the meeting of Crisis Management Group of the state government chaired by CM Nitish Kumar.
The fresh orders regarding unlock will be in effect from Wednesday to June 15.
CM Nitish said though lockdown is being lifted but night curfew will be effective from 7pm to 5am and shops will be closed by 5pm.
While shops dealing in essential, health and agriculture among other sectors will be allowed to remain open on all days, other categories of shops will be allowed to open on alternate days based on orders issued by district administration.
There will be no restriction on movement of private vehicles and common people on the streets, except during night curfew hours.
Besides, private offices will be allowed to open from Wednesday.
“Lockdown has led to reduction in the spread of Covid-19 infection.
Hence, lockdown is being lifted but night curfew will remain effective from 7pm to 5am.
Government as well as private offices will be allowed to remain open with 50% attendance till 4pm.
Shops will be allowed to remain open till 5pm,” Nitish tweeted soon after the meeting of CMG.
The CM said in another tweet that online educational works will be allowed as well as movement of private vehicles but crowding should be avoided.
Bihar government had enforced lockdown on May 5 in the wake of massive spurt in the cases of Covid- 19 in the state during the second wave of the pandemic.
The lockdown was extended four times with complete restriction on movement of private vehicles and closure of private offices among other curbs aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.
Over one month into the lockdown, the active cases of Covid-19 infected persons in the state have come down to nearly 8,000 with positivity rate around 1% and recovery rate at 98.09%.
The order issued by the state home department on Wednesday stated that the lockdown helped in curbing the spread of Covid-19 infection.
By lifting the lockdown, Bihar has joined the league of states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra among others, which are opening up in staggered manner through phase- wise Unlock measures.
The restrictions, which have been continued by Bihar government, include closure of all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, religious places, restaurants, cinema halls, shopping malls and no public events among others.
“We cannot say anything with certainty about opening of schools and colleges at present.
All religious places will continue to remain closed.
Besides, only 20 people will be allowed in marriages,” chief secretary Tripurai Sharan told reporters in a briefing after the meeting of CMG.
Additional chief secretary (home) Chaitanya Prasad said the exceptions in the night curfew will include movement of vehicles for health services, private vehicles on inter- state highways, those issued e- passes and those having passengers going to airport or railway stations.
He added that public transport vehicle will be allowed to operate with 50% occupancy and face- masks will be compulsory for people in any vehicle.
“Outsiders entry will continue to remain prohibited in government offices till further orders,” Chaitanya said.