The number of Covid 19 cases in north Bengal continued to surge even on Thursday, as 1,978 fresh cases were reported in the region during past 24 hours.

The highest number of cases, like the past few days, was reported in Malda district (548), followed by Darjeeling (462) and South Dinajpur 267).

“The steady rise in cases over the past 10 days or so indicates that a section of patients in north Bengal have got infected with omicron variant of the virus. Fortunately, the rate of hospitalization is low so far,” said a senior faculty member of North Bengal Medical College & Hospital.

Today, as the state health department published its daily bulletin of Covid cases, it was found that the total number of active patients has almost touched the 8,500 mark.

“Altogether, 8,484 active patients are there in the region now and two districts Malda (2,647) and Darjeeling (2,059) have crossed the two thousand mark while two other districts, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur, have more than 1,000 active patients,” said a source in the state health department.

Altogether, 610 patients been tested negative in past 24 hours and the highest number of patients who recovered are in Malda (358).

“This is a positive sign for Malda where the number of fresh cases is constantly climbing every day and is above 500 during the past couple of days,” the source added.

Like north Bengal, Covid cases are also increasing in the neighbouring state of Sikkim. On Thursday, 294 new cases have been reported in the Himalayan state, which is marginally low than 322, the number of cases reported on Wednesday in the state.

In north Bengal, the number of containment zones has also increased in past 24 hours. On Wednesday, the state health department had mentioned that 237 micro containment zones have been marked in the region. It has increased to 265 on Thursday.

“We are keeping a tab at the transit points in and around Siliguri to prevent spreading of the pandemic. Also, a stern watch is being kept in the political activities which are going on across the civic area because the Siliguri Municipal Corporation elections are ahead. All political parties have been asked to adhere to the guidelines mentioned by the state election commission,” said a source in the sub-divisional administration of Siligur.