Chief minister Mamata Banerjee advised residents of Bengal on Thursday to stay at home if any family member tests positive with more than 41,000 Covid cases being recorded in the state in the last seven days till Wednesday.
Mamata, who is fond of providing anecdotal evidence, cited a recent example from her residence at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street.
"My younger brother (Babun)'s wife has tested positive. I found him moving around casually. This is very irresponsible behaviour," said Didi, who had a quiet 67th birthday at her home on Wednesday.
"If the wife tests positive and the husband is negative, the husband believes he can roam around. We have forgotten it is important to stay in isolation if even any one member in the household tests positive," Mamata said during a news conference.
Mamata said her sibling's behaviour had offended her and she has told him not to step out from their home from tomorrow.
The latest report revealed by the state health department puts new cases between December 30- January 5 at 45,417, of which 2,920 patients had to be hospitalised. The positivity rate in the state is 23.17 per cent. In Calcutta alone 6,170 cases were reported positive till Wednesday, with a positivity rate of 46.09 per cent.
The number of daily cases in the state has moved upwards of 14,000 and doctors it could go up to 35,000 over the next few weeks.