Set up panel of experts to keep tab on COVID-19 situation: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Expressing concern over the fresh spread of COVID-19 cases in China, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has advised state health officials to set up a team of experts headed by the health secretary to monitor the emerging situation. 

During a meeting at the state secretariat on Wednesday, Banerjee enquired why one of the reporters was wearing masks, which has become a rarity in Bengal, and cabinet minister Arup Biswas subsequently informed her that cases were on the rise in China.

Recently a video has gone viral on social media showing bodies piling up at hospitals and crematoriums in China due to the rise in COVID-19 infections. Sharing the video on Monday, Harvard-based epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding said "epidemiologists estimate over 60 percent and 10 percent population are likely to get infected over next 90 days."

"Is there a new variant of coronavirus in China? But they (Chinese) have not imposed anything (restriction). I will ask the health department to keep a tab on the situation," the CM said. 

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Turning to Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi, she said, "Set up a team of experts to monitor the situation. The health secretary will be leading the team. Genome sequencing should continue."

Earlier in the day, state health officials said that Bengal is ready to tackle a fresh spurt in COVID-19 infections.

Sample examination is being done regularly in the state to keep a tab on the evolving situation, said Dr Siddhartha Niyogi, the director of the state's health services.

"Things are under control here but we will exercise caution," the senior official told PTI.

The Union health ministry had on Tuesday sent a missive to state governments asking them to gear up for any possible future surge and to send all positive case samples for genome sequencing for tracking the variants.

Since the outbreak of the disease in 2020, Bengal reported 21,532 deaths. According to state health department statistics, 20,96,981 people have recovered from the infection till December 20 this year.

The current COVID-19 positivity rate in Bengal stands at 0.16 percent with only 43 active cases.

On Tuesday, the state reported seven new cases. "We have been conducting COVID-19 tests regularly. The state has an adequate number of doctors and para-medics, sufficient masks, oxygen cylinders and an ample number of beds in different hospitals and medical colleges to handle the surge if any," the official said.

He said Bengal is testing 4,000 samples every day on average, and the recovery rate is 98.98 percent.

"We have combated three COVID-19 waves successfully and are confident of doing the same again, if necessary," Niyogi added.

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