Covid caution as cases climb up Darjeeling district records 76 new infections

SNS,SILIGURI, 18 APRIL 21: With cases of Covid-19 going up in Bengal, the state government has reinforced restrictions to fight against the second wave of the coronavirus.

With an advisory issued by the Home & Hill Affairs Department of the state government yesterday, the state government wants to control and contain the pandemic by urging all to follow Covid appropriate behaviour in the state like last year.

The measures to control the spread of the virus include effective enforcement of the rule to wear masks, adherence to physical distancing norms, and complete sanitization of entire work places and business places-at least once a week.

The advisory has asked all markets to be re-subjected to sanitization as was conducted last year.

"Attendance in any office under the state government shall not exceed 50 percent. The employees will attend offices on a rotational basis as may be decided by the appropriate authority," the advisory says.

It further advises private establishments to re-introduce the 'work from home' system.

It has also instructed shopping malls, multiplexes, theaters, restaurants, and eateries to have provisions for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitisers at all entry and exit points.

'The state government has reintroduced the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to combat the devastating second wave. A similar SOP had been in place during the first wave. It is more challenging to ensure that people follow the protocols," said a public health specialist in the region.

Meanwhile, Darjeeling district witnessed a slight decline in the daily number of Covid- 19 infections, as it recorded 76 cases in the past 24 hours.

The Siliguri Municipal Corporation, including areas in the Jalpaiguri portion, registered 66 cases. Thirteen cases were found in Matigara, three in Darjeeling Municipality, two cases each in Naxalbari and Sukhia Pokhari, and one case each in Kharibari and Phansidewa blocks, sources said.