Chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said Bengal had 444 containment zones as on Thursday.

Calcutta now has 264 such zones, North 24-Parganas 70 and Howrah 72. On Tuesday, Calcutta had 227, North 24-Parganas 57 and Howrah 56.

The state still has seven Covid-free green zones. They are Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, Birbhum, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Cooch Behar.

Sinha said the state had received a report from its task forces on relaxations, economic rehabilitation and other matters on what leeway Bengal could offer for its green, orange and red zones.

“Regarding these (relaxations) we got a report from them…. Tomorrow, we will place the report before the high-powered committee of the cabinet for taking decisions on such matters and then we will issue a notification,” Sinha said.

The relaxations being planned are mainly for the green zones, with measures such as allowing private buses to ply within each district with up to 20 passengers in each vehicle, reopening of factories and workshops and certain shops.

Doctor transferred

The health department on Thursday transferred the medical superintendent and vice-principal of Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, Debdas Saha, to a professorial post at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.

On Wednesday, Saha had passed an order instructing doctors in his hospital not to state Covid-19 as the cause of death for patients who had been admitted for the novel coronavirus.