Siliguri- Sharpest spike of 20 cases on a day- Twenty, including 10 from separate slums, test positive; ward 46 worries officials

SNS, SILIGURI, 15 JUNE 2020: Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) recorded its highest single day tally of 20 Covid- 19 cases today. On the other hand, there were concerns about the exponential rise in the number of cases in Ward 46, and the civic body has stressed on "micro-level steps" involving the local people to contain the situation.

The situation in the area has prompted the administration to close the Champasari market there for 10 days.

It is learnt that 91 persons have tested positive in the SMC wards so far, while 10 of the 20 cases today were reported from slums in five separate wards. With four new cases today, 24 cases have been detected in Ward 46 so far.

"We reviewed the situation in Ward 46 and observed that wards 2, 3 and 45 have also become vulnerable. We have decided to take steps at the micro level by involving the local people to contain the virus. There will be extensive vigilance to see if people in quarantines are following guidelines, while house-to house campaigns and proper sanitisiation would be carried out," said the member of the board of administrators, health, SMC, Sankar Ghosh.

Mr Ghosh held a meeting with doctors of the urban primary health centre, borough officers, sanitary inspectors. and Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery in the ward today.

"It appears that there are a number of factors primarily responsible for the spread of the virus. Though the regulated market has been closed, we have noticed several vehicles are unloading goods on the empty ground at Champasari without following the basic guidelines. Most of the persons who tested positive had contacts with earlier patients, while many in the same family have been infected. Being an area mixed communities, there has been movement of people from outside." Mr Ghosh added.

Health department sources said four cases were found in ward 46, four in ward 28, three in ward 18, three in ward 37, and one each in wards 4, 7, 10, 20, 33, and 42.

"The regulated market and the Champasari market are not located far away. Both are in the same ward 46. Fruit and vegetable markets and the wholesale fish market have been closed after some persons were infected there," said an administrative officer.

Sources said the administration might take similar decisions for other markets after examining the situation.

The chairman of the committee for markets under the SMC,Sonam Wangdi Bhutia, who chaired a meeting with the market committee today, said, "The market will be shut for 10 days. Santisation will be carried out during those days." Mr Bhutia is also the commissioner of the SMC.

The leader of the coordinators at the SMC and a member of the Darjeeling district task force, Ranjan Sarkar, said the civic body should engage around 100 volunteers for the markets who will monitor the guidelines and conduct awareness campaigns.

Three more in Malda

Meanwhile, three more persons have tested positive for the virus in Malda, taking the total tally to 315 in the district.

Tribeni SARI hosp 'shocks' Bista

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista today said he was taken aback during his visit to Kalimpong today after he came to know that the much-hyped 'Covid hospital' was simply a 'SARI hospital.'

"I was eager to visit the much-hyped Covid hospital announced by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) at Tribeni in Teesta. However, on arriving there, we were informed that it was not a Covid hospital, but rather a SARI-1 and SARI-2 level facility. People will be tested here using TrueNat machines and anyone showing symptoms or testing positive will be taken to Siliguri for actual treatment," Mr Bista said.

"So in a way, this is going to be another glorified quarantine centre, until the West Bengal government really provides the equipment, staff and facilities to turn this into a real Covid hospital. But this shouldn't take away from the fact that I appreciate the efforts made by GTA officials to create a new health facility in this crisis period, is really appreciable." he added. He was accompaniedied by Kalmpong MLA Sarita Rai. Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimba and representatives of all other alliance partners during the visit."Our hill areas urgently need dedicated Covid-19 hospitals and testing centres, so that people don't have to be taken all the way to Siliguri," Mr Bista said.