Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb and Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya on Tuesday discussed measures needed against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Deb went to the SMC headquarters and met Bhattacharya.

At the meeting, it was decided that urban primary health centres (UPHCs) of the SMC would be used as OPDs (outpatient departments) for those suffering from different ailments.

“Doctors, who are members of the Siliguri branch of the Indian Medical Association, would be posted at the OPDs,” the minister said.

“This would help in reducing the workload on the Siliguri district hospital and the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, where the staff have to handle suspected Covid-19 patients,” he added.

Bhattacharya said he had told Deb that it should be ensured that the NBMCH was ready with proper infrastructure to treat suspected Covid-19 patients.

“The two political rivals came together to spread a message among supporters of the Trinamul Congress an the Left Front that they will have to set aside their differences at the time of the crisis,” said a CPM councillor at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

Earlier in the day, Deb had held a separate meeting with Darjeeling district magistrate and chief medical officer of health, Siliguri police commissioner and the NBMCH superintendent. The meeting resolved to open two new quarantine units in and around Siliguri, the minister said.