Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said government offices would operate with 50 per cent employees till July 31 considering rising number of Covid-19 cases across the state.

“As of now, the departments were being run with 70 per cent employees working in two shifts. But we have decided that offices will operate with 50 per cent employees till July 31. The decision has been taken to ensure that physical distancing norms are maintained everywhere,” said the chief minister at Nabanna.

A section of officials has said the decision to reduce the staff strength in government offices is a timely one because a number of departments have been closed after several employees were infected with the novel coronavirus.

“The Assembly building has been closed down for three days after an employee was tested positive. Similarly, the Jessop Building was also shut down for a few days after a couple of employees were detected with the pathogen,” said an official.

Mamata also mentioned that all government offices, including Nabanna, would be sanitised once a week.

“Nabanna will be sanitised every Thursday,” said the chief minister.

So far, only Nabanna was being sanitised on a regular basis.

Offices outside Nabanna were being disinfected only when an employee was diagnosed with the disease.

“But sanitising other departments is also important as employees were testing positive in other offices outside Nabanna on a regular basis,” said an official.