The Mamata Banerjee government on Monday announced a complete lockdown across the state for two days every week to stem the spread of Covid-19 after evidence of community transmission of the coronavirus in some areas of West Bengal.
The decision was taken following a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister at the state secretariat, the state home secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said.
"There are a few places in the state where community transmission of Covid-19 has been detected. After talking to experts, doctors, enforcement authorities, and the police, we have decided to impose complete lockdown for two days every week in the entire state to break the chain (of transmission)," he told reporters at the secretariat.
All offices, transport services will be shut down on those two days, he said.
"This week, the total lockdown will be in force on Thursday and Saturday. Next week, the shutdown will be clamped on Wednesday (July 29)," the home secretary said, adding that a review meeting will be held next Monday for further discussions on the matter.
36 deaths in a day
Bengal reported 36 deaths from Covid-19 on Sunday, the highest in a day in the state so far. On July 9, 27 people had died of the disease.
The state also recorded highest number of cases at 2,278, recoveries at 1,344, and tests at 13,471, on Sunday. This was in line with the forecasts by the Mamata Banerjee government.
On Saturday, the state had logged 27 deaths. The previous highest cases at 2,198, recoveries at 1,286 and tests at 13,465, had all been reported on Saturday. “Total Covid-19 cases today went past 42,000, total recoveries almost touched 25,000 and active cases crossed 16,000. So much increase — both in bad parameters and the good — in barely three weeks,” said a Bengal minister on Sunday.
One lakh cases in eight days
“The total tests crossed the 7 lakh milestone, 71 days after achieving the first lakh on May 19 and covering the latest lakh in just eight days. In another landmark achievement, the last of the Shramik Special returnees (stranded migrant workers) successfully completed quarantine and all 2.76 lakh in institutional quarantine are out. There were lakhs of others in home quarantine. All are through.”
In just seven days, Bengal logged 12,474 new cases. In 24 days since June 26, when this ongoing spell of rise began, the state has had 26,839 new cases.
Recovery rate down
The state’s recovery rate has fallen from the July 4 high of 66.72 to 58.56 per cent. The national rate is now 62.5.
Of the 2,278 new cases, nearly three-fourths were reported from Calcutta and four surrounding districts, which all have high population density. The city alone logged an unprecedented number of 662 cases, while North 24-Parganas reported 544.
“These five districts added 20,926 new cases since June 26. Getting a grip on the outbreak in this cluster is the main focus of the administration now,” said the minister.
