S Dinajpur, Malda continue to see rise in Covid cases- 111 and 98 new cases detected in two districts

SNS, 19 JULY 2020, SILIGURI : South Dinajpur district reported a three-figure tally of Covid-19 cases for the second straight day today. A total of 111 new cases were freshly tested positive for the virus in the district.

Most of the patients have no travel history or symptoms, sources said.

"The total number of affected persons in the district now stands at 784, while 335 have been discharged after they were cured and there are 449 active cases now. A total of six safe houses are functional for the treatment of patients," sources said.

In Malda, 98 fresh cases took the total number of affected persons to over 1600. The fresh cases were found in tests conducted at the VRDL in the Malda Medical College and Hospital. .Among the new cases, 63 are from Ratua- I Block, and they include health officials, police personnel and block officials, according to sources.

The other cases are from English Bazaar, Kaliachak-III, Gazole, among other places.

The district administration is worried about a spike in the number of police and administrative officials affected by the virus, while officials said the trend might affect the overall Covid management in the district.

Lockdown extended

On the other hand, the three-day lockdown in Kaliachak, English Bazaar and Old Malda Municipality areas has been extended by two more days from tomorrow. The lockdown was supposed to end tonight. While the three-day lockdaon was total, vegetable and meat shops can open till 10 in the morning during the extended two days, sources said.

"We will review the situation in the coming week about the positive effects of the lockdown and we will think of further steps after that," a high-ranking government official in Malda said. Meanwhile, a major section of the police and the public are in favour of a 14-day lockdown so as to halt the spread of infections.

No cases in Alipurduar

Much to the relief of all, Alipurduar district reported zero Covid-19 cases today. A total of 216 persons have so far tested positive for the virus in Alipurduar till date, while one person has died, sources said.

Siliguri patient dies

Meanwhile, in Siliguri, a 59-year-old Covid-19 patient of Oodlabari in Jalpaiguri died at Dr Chhang's (Covid) Hospital at Matigara today, sources said. Also today, swab samples of a 59-yearold resident of Church Road in Siliguri,who died in the respiratory intensive care unit of the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital yesterday, confirmed that she had Covid- 19.

30 new cases in SMC

On the other hand, 30 persons in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area have been tested positive in the last 24 hours. Five of the fresh cases have been reported in Ward 39.

An employee at the office of the block development officer at Matigara has also tested positive for the virus. Six cases have been recorded in the block in the past 24 hours, sources said, and among them is a doctor of the Siliguri District Hospital.

Patient in a fix

A family in Fulbari in Siliguri has landed in a tight spot after private nursing homes allegedly refused admission for a 51-year-old patient, who has been tested negative for Covid-19 in a private laboratory. The son of the patient, Bikram Sarkar, said his father had been suffering from fever for the past 11 days and that he had heart ailments and high sugar.

"I am running from pillar to post for the admission of my father. He has tested negative for Covid-19 on 15 July, but despite that several nursing homes refused him admission, citing bed crisis," Mr Sarkar said today.