Bihar COVID-19 lockdown extended till June 1, announces CM Nitish Kumar

PATNA: The Bihar government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday extended the COVID-19 lockdown in the state till June 1. The COVID-induced lockdown has been in force in Bihar for nearly a month.

An announcement in this regard was made by the Chief Minister on his official Twitter handle.

"The COVID lockdown has had a good impact and there has been a decline in the corona contagion. Hence, a decision has been taken to continue with the lockdown till June 01", Kumar tweeted after chairing a high-level meeting convened to review the pandemic situation in the state, which was attended by members of his cabinet and top officials.

The chief minister said, "The lockdown was imposed for three weeks from May 5, 2021, in view of the corona infection. Today, the situation was reviewed again with the associate ministers and officials".

कोरोना संक्रमण को देखते हुए 5 मई 2021 से तीन सप्ताह के लिए लाॅकडाउन लगाया गया था। आज फिर से सहयोगी मंत्रीगण एवं पदाधिकारियों के साथ स्थिति की समीक्षा की गई। (1/2)

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) May 24, 2021

(2/2) लाॅकडाउन का अच्छा प्रभाव पड़ा है और कोरोना संक्रमण में कमी दिख रही है। अतः बिहार में 25 मई के आगे एक सप्ताह के लिए अर्थात 1 जून, 2021 तक लाॅकडाउन जारी रखने का निर्णय लिया गया है।

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) May 24, 2021

Lockdown was first clamped with effect from May 5, till May 10, after the state was rattled by an unprecedented spurt in COVID 19 cases and fatalities. It was subsequently extended till May 25. 

The state reported 107 fatalities and 4,002 fresh cases, as per the state health bulletin released on Sunday. Bihar now has 6.89 lakh coronavirus cases and 40,691 active cases, so far. The state health department said 6.44 lakh people have recovered from the virus so far.

Apart from Bihar, the Uttarakhand government also extended the COVID-19 lockdown on Monday till June 1. Besides, the lockdown was extended in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Puducherry on Sunday.

Bihar lockdown: Here’s what's allowed & what’s not

The restrictions include suspension of almost all business activities. Shops dealing in essential items have been allowed to do business for four hours FROM 6 am to 10 am in the morning. Strict measures are being taken, including police crackdown, to prevent people from flouting the rules and those found to be flagrantly violating these are being booked under the Disaster Management Act and the Epidemics Act.

-Essential services including district administrative services, police, civil defence, sanitation, fire brigade, water supply, health services will remain functional.

-All restaurants and eateries will be closed for dine-in service, takeaways allowed.

-Banks, insurance offices, and ATMs to remain open.

-Construction activities allowed. 

-e-commerce services have been allowed.

-Unnecessary movement in public places and roads will be prohibited.

-All shops selling vegetables, fruits, eggs and meat will be allowed to function.

-All religious places will remain closed.

-Cinema halls, malls, clubs, gyms and parks will be closed.

-Schools, colleges and other educational institutes will remain closed.

-No examinations will be conducted during the lockdown.

-Wedding ceremonies will be allowed with a maximum of 50 guests.

-DJ or Baarat processions strictly prohibited.