The number of Covid-19 cases in north Bengal reached close to the 1,000 mark while the number of active
patients crossed 2,000 on Friday.

The state health department data showed 919 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, while the total active cases have climbed to 2,133.

The highest number of cases have been reported from Malda (277), followed by Darjeeling (250), Jalpaiguri (112) and Cooch Behar (77). Two Covid patients have died in the region in the past 24 hours.

“The manner in which the number of cases is increasing in north Bengal, we suspect that the omicron variant has entered the region. In Darjeeling district alone, the number of daily cases has increased by five times in the past five days. Similar is the situation in Malda and Jalpaiguri,” said a senior doctor in Siliguri.

A number of government officials and health workers have been infected in the past 24 hours leading to the administration taking initiatives to curb the spread of the virus.

In South Dinajpur district, superintendent of police Rahul Dey and his wife have tested positive along with four deputy magistrates posted in the district. Twelve including doctors, nurses and health staff posted at the district hospital have tested positive.

“All of them are in home isolation. We are keeping a watch over the situation. All those working at the hospital and in the health centres have been asked to work with optimum precaution,” said Sukumar Dey, chief medical officer of health, South Dinajpur.

Altogether 14 micro containment zones have been marked in the district, sources said.
In Jalpaiguri, the district administration started an initiative to encourage people to wear masks.

On Friday, a rapid antigen test (RAT) camp was opened in front of the district collectorate. Policemen were deputed on the spot and whoever was found without a mask, was guided to the camp. The person was allowed to leave only after testing negative.

“We will continue this initiative. Even some employees of my office who were not wearing masks while entering the premises were taken to the camp for the rapid test. We have removed all temporary stalls which were there in surrounding areas of the collectorate to prevent assembly of people,” said Moumita Godara Basu, the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri.

In Malda, more than 50 per cent of the officials and staff of the zilla parishad have tested positive in the past 24 hours.
Biswajit Basak, the additional district magistrate who looks after the rural body, said 31 of 60 employees have been found infected with the virus.

“We have decided to sanitise the building twice a day. The working hours of employees have been divided into two shifts to keep the services continuing,” said Basak.

The deputy superintendent of police (headquarters), Prashanta Debnath, and the officer-in-charge of Lukochuri police outpost under Englishbazar police station, Abhishek Talukdar, have tested positive.

Former state minister and Trinamul leader Krishnendu Choudhury has tested positive for the second time, said sources.