A spike in Covid-19 cases ahead of Durga Puja prompted the Bengal government to ask all districts to launch a special sanitisation drive in crowded zones, especially marketplaces and bus terminals.

District sources said the government top brass asked district magistrates to start the sanitisation drive urgently as Covid infections in Bengal had increased in October.

According to state health department data, between October 1 and 19, the number of people in Bengal who contracted the infection is 64,324, far more than 53,145 between August 1 and 19 and 56,239 between September 1 and 19.

A Birbhum official said the spurt came ever since people hit the streets for Durga Puja shopping since last month.

“Data shows the rise (in Covid cases) is related to people stepping out in large numbers for festive shopping in Calcutta and the districts. If we can’t ensure people obey Covid protocol there will be an explosion in infections after Durga Puja,” said a health official.

The sanitisation directive prompted Birbhum, Purulia, Bankura and East Burdwan to start the drive in their respective markets and bus stops.

“We have been asked to sanitise crowded places like markets and bus terminals immediately. We started it on Tuesday and will continue it,” said Birbhum district magistrate Moumita Godara Basu.

To prevent crowding, Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Arijit Banerjee of Calcutta High Court on Monday issued an order banning entry of visitors inside pandals citing the pandemic situation.

The court also directed that the areas within 10 metres of a big puja pandal and five metres of a small pandal be barricaded as no-entry zone.