The spike in Covid-19 cases across north Bengal has made the administration and civic bodies clamp down lockdown in at least four of eight districts in the region till next Sunday.

According to the bulletin of the state health department issued on Sunday, 7,760 people were infected in the region and 49 of them died.

In Darjeeling district, a seven-day lockdown had been declared in hill towns and some rural areas from Sunday till August 2. The Siliguri civic area and some surrounding places are also under a lockdown till July 29.

In Jalpaiguri district, the administration on Sunday extended the lockdown till July 30 in Jalpaiguri and Malbazar towns and four panchayats – Dabgram 1 and 2 and Fulbari 1 and 2.

“We have spoken to the district magistrate as Covid-19 cases are on the rise in and around Siliguri. That is why the lockdown was announced in four panchayats,” said state tourism minister Gautam Deb.

Similarly, in Kalimpong district, there is lockdown in Kalimpong town and at some villages till August 2.

The Cooch Behar district administration has decided that along with the statewide lockdown on July 29, there will be complete lockdown in Cooch Behar town on alternate days.

“There shall be a complete lockdown in the town on July 28, 31 and August 2. On alternate days, there will be partial relaxation till 12 noon for essential purchases,” said an official in the district administration.

In Mathabhanga town, lockdown has been announced till August 3. Also, in Dinhata and Tufanganj, markets will remain open till 12 noon and then onwards, everything will close down, other than those selling essential commodities, said sources.

“The scene in north Bengal is quite different than districts located in southern parts of the state, where such lockdown has been announced only in some of the areas. Almost half of the districts here are under lockdown and we hope it would help to control the pandemic. Considering the steady rise in cases in Malda, such lockdown is also necessary in the district or at least in civic areas,” said a doctor based in Siliguri.