Bengal chief secretary H.K. Dwivedi on Tuesday asked districts to increase Covid-19 tests across the state with positive cases showing a rise after Durga Puja.

He also asked district officials to be prepared in case the third wave of pandemic hits the state.

The chief secretary held a videoconference with district authorities, including officials of Calcutta Municipal Corporation, with a PowerPoint presentation to show how Covid-19 cases were on the rise after Durga Puja.

According to Dwivedi’s data, positivity rate of almost all districts have increased significantly between October 12 and 18 compared to what was reported between October 5 and 11.

These districts include Calcutta, and the North and South Parganas. In Calcutta, positivity rate was 3.65 per cent between October 12 and 18 and 3.11 per cent between October 5 and 11.

“Overall, Bengal’s positivity rate was 2.09 per cent between October 5 and 11 but it jumped to 2.53 per cent between October 12 and 18. It’s a cause for concern,” an official who attended the meeting on Tuesday said. He added that the chief secretary asked officials to be ready with infrastructure for tests and treatment as well as vaccination.

Active cases rise

Bengal on Tuesday reported 726 new Covid-19 infections, 705 recoveries and nine deaths.

The total of active cases rose by 12 to 7,428.

A minister said new infections being reported now is indicative of people that got infected in the October 10 to 14 (Panchami to Navami). Calcutta reported 183 new infections and two deaths on Tuesday, and North 24-Parganas 106 new cases and two deaths.