The Bengal government has banned mobile phones inside Covid hospitals, saying they can be potential sources of the coronavirus.

A health department order that reached the superintendents of all Covid hospitals made it clear that the directive would be applicable to all persons inside the facilities, including patients and staff on duty.

“Each patient has to deposit his or her mobile phone before entering the hospital and they would be given a receipt. The authorities have to install a landline with STD calling facility for patients,” said a source.

Chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said that the order was issued after it was considered that mobile phones could be a potential source of the spread of Covid19 infection.

Some sources, however, said the decision was taken after some BJP leaders used videos — shot by patients inside the hospital — in social media to embarrass the state government.