West Bengal: 13 Govt hospitals directed to function as non-Covid units

Out of these, 12 hospitals are situated in North 24 Parganas. The facilities have been further instructed to ensure essential medical services other than COVID on a priority basis.

These hospitals were earlier designated Covid-19 hospitals during the outbreak of COVID cases.

According to a recent media report in Times of India, the government hospitals, which have received directions to be treated as non-Covid hospitals include College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Medical College and Hospital, Dr B N Bose Sub-divisional Hospital, Barrackpore, Panihati State General Hospital, Naihati State General Hospital, Barasat District Hospital, Dr J R Dhar Sub-divisional Hospital, Bongaon, Sree Balaram Seva Mandir SGH Khardah, Baranagar State General Hospital, Bhatpara State General Hospital, Habra State General Hospital, Gobardanga State General Hospital, ESI Hospital Kamarhati and ESI Hospital Uluberia.

Commenting on the same, North 24 Parganas district magistrate Sumit Gupta told TOI, "Covid case load in the district has fallen and there are other non-Covid essential medical services which also need to function on priority basis. However, we have communicated to the hospitals that wherever Covid patients are there they will remain there till they are discharged,"

District authorities pointed out that as the hospitals have been treating Covid patients, the special facilities needed for COVID treatment are already there in the hospitals. Hence, if cases rise, the hospitals can immediately start treating those patients again.

For the last few weeks, the average number of daily new cases in North 24 Parganas were in the range of 70-90, with one or two deaths. As far as micro containment zones in the districts are concerned, authorities have also decreased the number to 62, with Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation area topping with 12, mostly standalone houses and flats. The other areas include Barasat, Madhyamgram, South Dum Dum, Panihati, Kamarhati and Swarupnagar municipality areas, reports the daily.