The state health department is worried about lack of Covid-19 safety protocols at election rallies.

One environment activist has written to the Central Election Commission, expressing similar concerns.

“We are very worried about the way people are not adhering to Covid safety protocols. The number of Covid cases is rising in Bengal,” a senior official of the health department said.

“Apart from spreading awareness, we want to escalate the vaccination drive to cover all elderly people and those with comorbidities. Also, we want to complete vaccination of poll personnel, healthcare and frontline workers to protect the workforce during the election.”

He said the elderly people and those above 45 with comorbidities totalled 1.72 crore in the state. Of them, only 26 lakh have been vaccinated.

There are around 5.2 lakh polling personnel who need to be administered doses twice before the polling process starts.

“Around 2.38 lakh doses are being administered daily. The vaccination pace has to be increased to achieve the target. We have barely 10 days of vaccine vials. We have written to the Centre asking how many vials they can supply…. Accordingly, we can plan to escalate the drive,” the official said.

On Tuesday, 255 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Bengal. The number was 251 on Monday. On February 16, the count was 151.

Environment activist Subhas Datta, worried about the lack of Covid safety protocols at election-related gatherings, has written to the election commission: “...during the current election campaigns, the political parties and their leaders are not giving any cognizance to Covid-19 pandemic disciplines like maintaining social distancing, wearing masks etc, especially while organising rallies/road shows/ meetings in public places.”

“In some states, including West Bengal the number of Covid-19 affected patients is increasing again. The present upward graph of Covid-19 patients has become a matter of concern to all. We had to face total setback in different fields due to Covid lockdown situation. It is feared that such a complete lockdown situation may repeat again, if the present practices are not changed or checked.

“In the matter of maintaining law and order during the election process, the Election Commission has been found very active but it is painfully observed that this august institution has preferred to remain as silent spectator to this deadly situation arising out of non-compliances during the election campaign.”