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NRIs from West Bengal should plan their inbound connecting flights cautiously in the wake of WB’s new travel guidelines
- All airlines have been told of the decision, according to the official order written to Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India
As Omicron cases rise in the state of West Bengal, the state government has issued new guidelines for citizens and travellers. These are in addition to the existing restrictions that are in place. The stare government has announced the closure of all tourism sites for 15 days effective from today. The Additional Chief Secretary of West Bengal, BP Gopalika has also cut down on the number of flights from Delhi and Mumbai by reducing the flight frequency to twice a week from January 5. All airlines have been told of the decision, according to the official order written to Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
The decision came on the back of the review by the state authorities of the current Covid-19 situation. The high positivity rate of the virus and new cases of the Omicron variant were taken into account. The guidelines, which will remain in effect till January 15, also include the closure of all entertainment parks and zoos. Shopping malls, market complexes, restaurants, and bars in the state will operate at 50 per cent capacity and till 10 pm only.
The state government also issued a diktat for all international passengers to undergo a mandatory Covid-19 test on arrival at the airport. All arrivals from ‘at risk’ countries are already required to take a RT-PCR test on arrival at Indian airports and, at the Kolkata International Airport, all arriving international passengers from countries, not ‘at risk’ are required to mandatorily undergo a test on arrival at their cost
The West Bengal government has also emphasised that meetings and conferences shall be allowed with a maximum of 200 people at a time or 50 per cent seating capacity of the hall, whichever was lower. No more than 50 persons would be allowed at weddings and any other social or religious gatherings. Movement of people and vehicles and public gatherings of any kind shall be prohibited between 10 pm to 5 am with only essential and emergency services permitted during night hours, the order mandated.
Last week, the state government had issued a notification on international incoming flights and had decided to ban all flights from the United Kingdom in the state from January 3 until further orders. The state government also issued a diktat for all international passengers to undergo a mandatory Covid-19 test on arrival at the airport. All arrivals from ‘at risk’ countries are already required to take a RT-PCR test on arrival at Indian airports and, at the Kolkata International Airport, all arriving international passengers from countries, not ‘at risk’ are required to mandatorily undergo a test on arrival at their cost.
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