One dies in Siliguri- 19 fresh cases -Markets in town to remain shut longer; 37 more cases in Malda, 12 more in North Dinajpur

SNS, SILIGURI, 4 JULY 2020: Patients who have tested positive for Covid 19 continue to die in Siliguri. A 75- year-old man from Sisudangi in Matigara died in the Desun (Covid) Hospital at Kawakhali here today. He was admitted to the hospital yesterday sources said.

Meanwhile, around 19 persons have been tested positive in areas under the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, to strengthen the administration's containment measures, the closure of markets under the SMC has been extended, according to state tourism minister Gautam Deb. Most of the markets in the town are closed since 29 June for seven days, after some Covid-19 cases in the areas were found. The closure of the same has been now extended to 14 days in totaL. The decision to extend the period of shutdown in the markets was taken following the steady rise of Covid 19 cases in Siliguri. The administration has identified the markets after some Covid cases had links with them.

"The Siliguri Town Station market and vegetable market at Tikia Para under Wards 18 and 28, respectively, will remain closed till 12 July,' Mr Deb said today.

Four markets—Salugara, Ektiasal (Ward 40), Haidar Para (Ward 39) and Bangla Bazaar (Ward 42) under the Bhaktinagar police station, will continue to remain shut till 14 July:The Ghogomali market will also remain closed till 14 July. The market at Gurung Busti will be closed for seven days.

Containment zones: Fifty-one containment zones have been identified under the SMC area in Darjeeling district. Mr Deb said there were 26 zones in the Matigara block and four in the Naxalbari block.

37 more in Malda: Thirty-seven fresh cases of the novel coronavirus were detected last night in tests conducted at the VRDL in the Malda Medical College and Hospital. The fresh cases have now taken the number of total cases in the district to around 750. According to sources, 16 new cases were found in Harishchandrapur-II, two in Harishchandrapur- I, seven in Chanchal-II, six in Kaliachak, two each in Habibpur and English Bazaar and one each in Manikchak block and Old Malda Municipality.

12 new cases In North Dinajpur: In North Dinajpur district, 12 Covid cases were found in the past 24 hours. Six cases were found in the Islampur Block, three in Raiganj, two in Chopra and one in Karandighi Block. Sources said that the total number of cases in the district has now gone up to 324. According to a source at the district health office, the recovery rate in the district is, however, good. "A total of 281 patients have recovered and have been released from Covid hospitals so far," the source said.