Government schools and higher education institutions can resume physical sessions from February 3, and daily flights connecting Calcutta with Delhi and Mumbai can operate, according to a series of relaxations announced by chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday.

⚫ Educational institutions (from Class VIII to universities) can resume physical classes. Pupils from pre-primary classes to Class VII can be taught in open areas in their localities.

⚫ Flights from Delhi and Mumbai will operate daily. Direct flights between Calcutta and the UK will be allowed subject to RT-PCR tests on the passengers.

⚫ Attendance in government and private offices can be 75 per cent, up from 50 per cent.

⚫ Suburban trains and the Metro can fill 75 per cent seats instead of 50 per cent.

⚫ Night restrictions will begin from 11pm instead of 10pm.

⚫ Restaurants, bars, malls, cinemas and sporting arenas can run at 75 per cent capacity at a time.

⚫ Salons, beauty parlours, gyms, spas and wellness centres can operate at 75 per cent of capacity.

⚫ Weddings and other social events can go on at 75 per cent of the hall capacity.

⚫ Parks, zoos, museums and tourist spots can reopen at 75 per cent of capacity.

⚫ All programmes, including political ones, can be held at 75 per cent of the capacity of a hall or indoor stadium.

Mamata said at Nabanna: “We have given some additional relaxations but other restrictions will continue till February 15. We will hold a meeting before February 16 and review the situation.”

She added: “Everything had remained closed for two years.... If life comes to a halt, how will livelihood be generated? How will the factories run?”

The chief minister thanked the people for having “behaved sensibly” but cautioned them against dropping their guard.

“People have behaved sensibly and the (Covid) cases have fallen. Besides, people are getting cured within a few days if they don’t have co-morbidities,” she said.

Mamata said that only outdoor activities by political parties continued to be restricted.

“Such programmes can be held with only 200 participants. We cannot allow everything at one go. Besides, there are civic elections and the state election commission has ordered some restrictions that cannot be overridden,” she said.