Efforts on to contain virus within identified sensitive areas: Govt

Pritesh Basu | MP | 16 April 2020 | Kolkata: There is absolute transparency and no problem of coordination with the Centre in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, said the Bengal government on Thursday. Also, continuous efforts are on to contain the virus within the identified sensitive areas as per the state's "micro-planning". 

Besides checking the spread of the disease outside the containment zones, the state government is also ensuring that no new people get infected to it in these areas. In a bid to do so, the state government has decided that "swab samples be taken for all symptomatic contacts, and all asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a person" who tested positive as per the ICMR guidelines. It also has to be done at the "clusters or quarantine centres, as deemed fit by the local administration". 

This comes when 24 people have tested positive in the state in the past 24 hours and the audit committee has confirmed that three more have died due to the disease, taking the total death toll to 10 in the state. 

Currently, a total of 144 people are suffering from COVID-19 and as many as 51 have been released till date, including nine who were released from the hospital on Thursday after they tested negative. 

So far, 3,811 tests have been carried out in Bengal. 

While addressing the media at Nabanna Sabhaghar in presence of Chief Minister d about the containment zones. Actually, it has been referred to as the areas where positive cases of CMamata Banerjee, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said: "They (Centre) have stateOVID-19 have been repeated. As per the classification, they have spoken about four districts. Containment measures as per our micro-planning have been taken in these areas and others as well wherever the state government felt necessary." 

When asked about the Centre's advisory to carry out door-to-door tests of patients of influenza-related illness and severe acute respiratory illness, Sinha said: "I would like to clearly state that health is a state subject and COVID-19 is a national pandemic. So the Centre and the state government are working together to fight the virus. We are sharing all the information. We have a global advisory group and an expert committee extending all kinds of support to check the spread of the disease. I would like to assure that the state government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety of its people." 

Sinha also had a video conference with all the District Magistrates on Thursday morning when he gave detailed instructions to the authorities on steps needed to be taken to fight the disease, especially in the sensitive areas. 

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her dissatisfaction as 10 per cent of the beneficiaries only received ration for half a month when it was repeatedly directed to give them foodgrains for one month at a time. Subsequently, Principal Secretary of the state Food and Supplies department Manoj Agarwal has been replaced with 1999 batch IAS officer Parwez Ahmad Siddiqui. 

The labour room and gynaecology ward at NRS Medical College and Hospital were shut after a woman, who had recently given birth to a child, tested positive for COVID-19. 

Giving relaxations to sweet shops, Banerjee said it will remain open from 8 am to 4 pm every day. 

A week ahead of the Ramadan, Muslim clerics urged followers not to host Iftar parties and perform Taraweeh namaz (special night namaz) at home to maintain social distancing. 

( Courtesy, Source and link- Millenium Post - http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/efforts-on-to-contain-virus-within-identified-sensitive-areas-govt-407415 )