More surveillance, maintaining Covid protocol at crowded places and stress on vaccination were the measures that would be taken at present in West Bengal to monitor and prevent any possible rise in Covid cases, a meeting of an expert committee decided on Thursday.
“At present, we have daily new Covid cases in single digits. However, given the reported surge in cases in countries like China, we are advising the hospitals in the state to conduct Covid tests for those patients with fever or respiratory distress. The samples should be sent for genome sequencing, if found positive,” a senior health department official, who was part of the meeting, said.
West Bengal reported nine new Covid cases on Thursday.
On December 18, there were zero new cases, according to the state health department data.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday had set up an expert committee headed by health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam with senior doctors as members, to advise the West Bengal government on steps to be taken in case there is a surge in Covid.
The committee held it’s first meeting on Thursday.
“We will wait and watch. But at the same time, surveillance should be increased,” said the health official. He said the hospitals will be advised to step up Covid vaccination again.
There has been a dip in vaccination after the Covid cases started reducing. Many private hospitals have not procured fresh stocks of Covid vaccines.
“Also, this is the festive season with many fairs being organised. There will be crowding of people. We want to remind people that the mask mandate has not been withdrawn. So, people should wear masks and maintain other Covid protocols at crowded places,” said the official.
