The number of Covid-19 cases continued to increase in north Bengal on Tuesday with 1,369 fresh infections being reported in the past 24 hours.

The highest number of new cases was reported in Malda district (544), followed by Darjeeling (226) and North Dinajpur (181).

The rise in the cases also led to an increase in the number of active Covid patients. According to a bulletin issued by the state health department on Tuesday, there are 5,648 active patients in the region. The maximum number of active patients is in Malda (1,891), followed by Darjeeling (1,324).

“There is every possibility that the omicron variant has reached north Bengal, considering the surge in fresh cases. Samples have been sent for genome sequencing and the reports would be available soon,” said a senior faculty at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.

Sources said Cooch Behar district magistrate, superintendent of police and the chief medical officer of health of the district didn’t test positive. “All the three took a booster dose of the vaccine today (Tuesday),” said a source.

In Jalpaiguri, the administration has marked Maynaguri, Rajganj and Malbazar blocks and Jalpaiguri civic area as “important” because of the rate of surge in Covid cases.

“We today held a virtual meeting with BDOs and SDOs and decided to enforce all restrictions in these areas. We are exploring options like keeping markets close or temporarily shifting the same to larger areas,” said Moumita Godara Basu, the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri.

Sikkim also recorded more than 50 per cent rise in the number of fresh cases with 198 new infections on Tuesday. The state had recorded 112 cases on Monday, 70 on Sunday and 45 on Saturday.

Along with local people, 11 tourists visiting Sikkim also tested positive for Covid on Monday, the first day of the fresh curbs imposed on all entering the Himalayan state.

“All tourists who tested positive preferred to return instead of availing themselves of paid quarantine facility in the state,” said M. K. Sharma, the health minister of Sikkim.

Sharma iterated that all persons — both locals and tourists — entering Sikkim without negative RT-PCR reports conducted within 72 hours prior to the date of the arrival must take Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at their respective points of entry.

“The health department made arrangements to conduct RAT at all entry points from 9am to 7pm,” he added.