Night curfew imposed in Bihar, schools, cinema halls, religious places to remain shut till this date

PTI photo

New Delhi: After Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu, the Bihar government on Sunday (April 18) decided to impose night curfew from 9 pm
To 5 am; extends closure of schools/colleges/coaching centres till May 15. 

Announcing the decision, Bihar Chief Minister said, "Night curfew will remain in place from 9 pm to 5 am across the state. All shops selling vegetables, fruits, eggs and meat will be closed by 6 pm. Restaurants and dhabas to be operational for home delivery and take away services till 9 pm."

"As per the decision of the crisis management group, we have imposed night curfew in the state. Besides, all educational institutions will remain closed till May 15. We have directed top officials of the district to implement the restrictions and take strongest possible action against the violators," he said.

Here are the fresh guidelines issued by the Bihar government: 

The night curfew starts from 9:00 pm and will remain till 5 am.

Competitive examinations such as the BPSC, the SSC and technical selection commission examination will be completed on scheduled time. 

Marriages, cremation, burial and travelling are exempted, but for cremation/burial, only 25 persons are allowed and for marriages, 100 persons.

All cinema halls, theatres, malls, gyms, swimming pool, parks, restaurant and eateries will stay closed till May 15. Restaurants and eateries can only provide home delivery.

Both private and government officers will be operational till 5 pm on working days, and organising private or government events in common places would be punishable.

Section 144 has been imposed in urban areas and some rural areas falls, but emergency services such as medicine shops, hospitals services, fire, police, ambulance, post, banking, and transportation services will function.

"We have directed the authority to ensure liquid oxygen in medical colleges and hospitals in the state. Doctors will also provide treatment to Covid patients in sub-divisional hospitals and primary health centres. The authority should closely monitor people coming from other states," CM Nitish Kumar said. Noting that corona cases were steadily rising with 8,690 new cases on Sunday, he said authorities have been asked to ensure RT-PCR test reports in minimum time. "We have also asked authorities for daily monitoring for patients staying in home isolation," he said.

The Chief Minister also said that they had have appealed migrants to come to Bihar as soon as possible so that we could make arrangement for them accordingly in quarantine centres.