Bihar coronavirus new timings: Shops to close now at 4pm, curfew starts at 6 pm

In an attempt to put a check on the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state, the Bihar government on Wednesday announced new stringent COVID-19 restrictions.  

According to the new norms, the state government has ordered that shops and commercial establishments will close at 4:00 pm daily while the night curfew timings have been extended from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. This will be applicable from April 29 till May 15.  

Earlier, the timing for shops and commercial establishments functioning was till 6:00 pm and night curfew was imposed from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am.  

The decisions of these new measures were taken at the meeting of the crisis management group chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during the day.  

Here are the new Covid guidelines laid out by the Bihar Government:  

The congregation at the marriage functions has been lowered to 50 persons from 100 at present.  

For the last rites, gatherings have been limited to 20 in place of 25.  

Government and other offices will function only with 25 per cent attendance till 4 pm.  

Essential services have been exempted from the curbs.  

During a media briefing, Development Commissioner Amir Subhani said the state government will meet the cost of conduct of last rites of COVID victims and also those testing negative but having symptoms of the deadly virus.  

He added, walk-in interviews will be held for recruitment for one-year time to increase the strength of the doctors and paramedics.  

The second surge of coronavirus has wreaked havoc in the country, including Bihar. The state capital being the worst hit- witnessing the maximum number of daily cases and casualties.  

Of 12,604 new coronavirus cases across Bihar Tuesday, Patna accounted for 1,837. The state capital reported 22 fatalities out of the 85 fresh deaths.