Kolkata: In order to check non-essential social gatherings that may spread Covid, West Bengal government on Saturday ordered closure of all restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, amusement parks, museums and zoos in the state from Sunday. A home department notification stated the order would remain in force till March 31. It stated that in case of a social gathering, held under exceptional circumstances, it must be very small in size so that social distance could be ensured. TNS

AIMIM: Memorials can’t protect people

Aurangabad: AIMIM’s Maharashtra unit head MP Imtiyaz Jaleel said memorials could not protect people in times of a pandemic which was why it was important to build hospitals instead. Funds allotted for constructing memorials should be utilised for building hospitals, he stressed. Taking to Twitter, Jaleel said, “No smarak (memorial) of any leader would protect you in times like these! Hospitals will! That’s why I am opposing memorial building and instead asking for hospitals to be made with that money (sic).” PTI