The first of Bengal's twice-weekly 24-hour lock down begins today, a day after the state logged the highest number of new cases at 2,291 and the highest number of deaths at 39 in a span of 24 hours. From all indications, the lockdown will be implemented more rigorously than in the recent past. Everything will be shut, except essential services. Banks, which have already been told to stay shut on weekends, will also be closed on Thursday.