The Howrah civic body has sought the services of private medical practitioners to tackle the spread of Covid-19.

“The Howrah Municipal Corporation is reaching out to all private doctors who can volunteer and donate their services at our Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs). This is the best time to donate your professional services for the people of Howrah. We need your support. You may express your interest by dropping an email on commissioner.howrah@gmail.com,” the Howrah Municipal Corporation tweeted on Wednesday.

Howrah is one of the worst-hit places in the state. It is the first district adjoining Calcutta where Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed following reports of multiple Covid-19 patients and lockdown violations.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge before us. We feel if we are able to engage more doctors, we will be able to serve more people. Also, since many private clinics are closed, why not use the services of doctors?” Dhaval Jain, the Howrah Municipal Corporation commissioner, said.

Barring some paediatric clinics, almost all private clinics are shut in the state.

“Now that the testing scale has expanded; the number of positive cases will go up in the coming days. We are seeking the help of private practitioners to tackle the surge in numbers,” a health department official said.

Four sample collection centres are being set up in as many ward health units of the Howrah Municipal Corporation. The units are in some of the worst-hit pockets in Howrah city.

Eight wards — 6, 15, 19, 27, 28, 29, 31 and 36 (comprising pockets in Shibpur, Salkia and around the Howrah Maidan area) — are among the worst-hit, a Howrah civic official said.

These places had reported a majority of the coronavirus positive cases in Howrah city, the official said.

The shortage of government doctors has prompted the authorities in many states to seek the help of private doctors.

The Maharashtra government has asked close to 25,000 private medical practitioners in Mumbai to report to hospitals treating Covid-19 patients. They have been directed to spend at least 15 days in the hospitals they are assigned to. A failure to comply may lead to revocation of their licence, the government has said in an order.