Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the number of deaths from Covid-19 in Bengal had increased to five from three and eight more positive cases had been reported in the past 24 hours.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases in the state is 69 now. “I had said the number of deaths (from the infection) was three. After an audit, the number has gone up to five. The experts have given their opinion,” said the chief minister.

Mamata didn’t mention when and where the deaths had occurred. But sources at Nabanna said the few deaths from suspected Covid-19 had been reported in the past two-three days and reports of all such patients had been sent to an expert committee set up by the state government to audit the reason of the deaths.

“After studying these cases, the expert committee reached a conclusion that two of them died from the coronavirus infection,” said a senior government official.

A health department official said: “It was found that some patients, admitted with other problems, had died at hospitals and they had tested Covid-19 positive after or just before their deaths. The five-member committee was entrusted to find out whether the coronavirus infection was the reason behind their death after going through detailed reports and taking 20 parameters into consideration.”

The chief minister said with eight new positive cases in the past 24 hours, the total number of Covid patients in the state had reached 69.

“Out of these 69 patients, 60 are from nine families. Even four of the eight new persons, who were tested positive in the past 24 hours, are relatives of someone already detected with Covid-19,” said Mamata.

She said the state government had already identified the areas from where majority of the positive cases had been reported and a plan was being drawn up to staunch the spread of the virus.

“We are preparing a map. According to the map, this (disease) is contained within a small area till now... we have to draw up a Lakshmanrekha… it is spread across seven places,” said Mamata.

Mamata said the state government was preparing a plan to stop the spread of the virus in the post-lockdown period when thousands of people, including migrant labourers, would come back to the state. “We will take them to safe houses. We are preparing a detailed plan.”

The sources said the state had already set up 511 quarantine centres and if required, more such facilities would be established.

The state is likely to send all those coming from states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh where the virus has spread largely, to government quarantine centres.

“For the rest, a mandatory home quarantine for 14 days could be ordered,” said an official.

Left leaders meet CM

A delegation led by Left Front chairman Biman Bose and CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra on Tuesday met the chief minister at Nabanna and submitted a 17-point memorandum with suggestions to improve Bengal’s response to the pandemic.

After the meeting, Mamata said the discussion was positive and the Front had promised cooperation in the fight against Covid-19.

Bose said the Front had not gone looking for a fight at this time and all its concerns were duly raised.