Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, on the 12th of October, said the State reported community transmission and air borne cases of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
Ms. Banerjee said, ” ask everybody to follow the Covid-19 safety protocols during the festive season. There are instances of community transmission of Covid-19 and also the contagion becoming airborne.”
The statement of the West Bengal Chief Minister came after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) conducted a Cabinet meeting, Nabanna.
After the Cabinet meeting, Mamata Banerjee addressed the media and spoke about the COVID-19 cases from community transmission.
In addition, State Chief secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay said measures are being taken to bring down the cost of COVID-19 tests and treatment, to make it affordable for common people.
However, the Union Health Ministry in India has not issued any warning or advisory as yet with regards to the spreading of coronavirus via air.
The Bengal Chief Minister asked the people to avoid stepping out during the festive season as much as possible.” I cannot ask people not to go out but I request you all to not to go out shopping…many go out during this time for Puja celebrations,” she said.
Mamata Banerjee also advised people to wear thick masks when they visit Durga Puja pandals in the State.
Last month, the West Bengal government had issued a notification asking Durga Puja committees to follow Covid-19 safety protocols and set up open pandals where visitors cannot enter without masks.
“Pandals shall have to be spacious and should be kept open from all sides. If in case it becomes essential to have closed ceiling, the sides will have to be kept open and if the sides have to be blocked, the ceiling has to be kept open,” the notification signed by Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said.
Covid situation in West Bengal
In the highest single-day spike in Covid-19 cases, West Bengal had on Sunday reported 3,612 fresh infections. With new cases, the total number of infected persons in the state reached 2,94,806, as per the state health department.
A total of 59 more patients succumbed to the deadly virus, pushing the total fatalities in the state to 5,622, it said. The Covid-19 recovery rate in West Bengal stood at 87.84 per cent with 3,110 people getting discharged since Saturday and 2,58,948 overall.
As per the PTI, North 24 Parganas accounted for 18 deaths, followed by the metropolis with 16 fatalities, while the fresh cases include 774 infections from North 24 Parganas and Kolkata (757.)
There have been 30,236 active Covid-19 cases in the state. Since Saturday, 42,611 samples have been tested in the state, taking the total number of such clinical examinations to 36,93,600, the health department said.
Stay tuned for further updates.
