Two members of a team sent by the Union ministry of rural development to study the progress of different projects tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday.

They had undergone tests upon their arrival here on Monday.

The team was sent to review the progress of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

The four senior officials arrived in Bengal from Delhi on August 24. While two went to Birbhum, others reached Bankura.

Senior state government officials said they had asked the team not to visit districts because of the pandemic and told them that conducting the survey would be a problem.

“As the team members said it was mandatory for them to inspect the projects, we advised them to undergo tests first before they set out to visit the sites,” said a senior district official.

A senior official in Birbhum said the two officials from Delhi had undergone a rapid antigen test first and one of them was detected with the novel coronavirus.

“After that, we sent their samples again and asked them to be in quarantine at a Bolpur hotel. Reports for the duo came positive today (Thursday) and we have asked them to be at the same hotel for at least 10 days,” said Moumita Godara Basu, Birbhum district magistrate.

In Bankura, the two officials underwent a test and they were allowed to move after the report came negative.

“We did not allow them to move out till their reports came. However, they were tested negative for Covid,” said a senior official in Bankura.

One of the officials, who had been sent to Birbhum, said: “We have been verbally informed about our Covid report. We have no symptoms.”

“We will take a final decision after discussing with our bosses in Delhi.”