The number of Covid-19 cases continued to surge across north Bengal on Monday with 1,293 new infections being reported in the past 24 hours.

Among the districts, the highest number of new cases was reported from Malda district (330), followed by North Dinajpur (290).

The increase in the fresh cases also led to a rise in the number of active Covid patients in the region. According to the bulletin issued by the state health department on Monday, there are 13,659 active patients. In the past 24 hours, 914 other patients tested negative.

“Over half of the active patients are in Malda (4,080) and Darjeeling (3,201) districts. Also, the number of such patients has crossed the 1,000 mark in three other districts of the region. Situation is comparatively better in the districts of Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Kalimpong,” said a senior official of the state health department.

In the past 24 hours, two Covid patients died in north Bengal.

The rise in the number of patients has also made the administrations of different north Bengal districts to mark containment zones to prevent spreading of the pandemic. As per the state health department’s report on Monday, there are 341 containment zones across north Bengal.

In Jalpaiguri, the sub-divisional administration, along with the civic body, held a meeting with different trade bodies and transporters’ associations on Monday. At the meeting, it has been decided that all marketplaces and shops will remain closed on January 19, 22, 30 and 31.

“Only emergency services would be open on these four days. Also, in the first two days (January 19 and 22), e-rickshaws will be off the roads,” said Sandip Mahato, vice-chairman of the board of administrators of Jalpaiguri municipality.