Covid positivity in Kolkata and Howrah at 60.29%, 50.89% – Economic Times

The Covid positivity in Kolkata and Howrah reached an astounding level 60.29% and 50.89 respectively between the period January 5-11 according to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s (MoHFW) data. Kolkata’s positivity rate is second highest in the country in this period.

Expressing concern over high Covid surge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday reached Gangasagar transit camp in Kolkata’s Babughat and urged the pilgrims to abide by High Court order, maintain all Covid protocols and undergo RTPCR tests before starting for Mela in Gangasagar.

Kolkata’s positivity rate is second highest in the country during the January5-11 period, according to MoHFW. The positivity rate in Paschim Bardhaman stands at 39.18 percent followed by Birbhum which is 38.87 per cent. In South 24 Parganas district, the positivity rate 28.22 per cent in the period between January5-11.

West Bengal government has set up camps to conduct RTPCR tests near the transit camp and the pilgrims are made to wait for the reports before the pilgrims leave in buses or trains for Sagar Island.

West Bengal government has set up camps to conduct RTPCR tests and separate isolation centres have been set for those who are testing positive.

Expressing concern over huge surge of Omicron cases in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee made it clear that no Covid positive people will be allowed to go to the fair. She urged Mela Committee to pursue fewer people to go to the Mela this year and requested the pilgrims to curtail their trips.

“Many senior IAS officers have tested positive. Our people are taking high risk to work for the pilgrims. So, please wear masks and be cautious,” Banerjee cautioned the

The high positivity rates, Mela and civic polls in four municipality in the state have raised concern among the health experts. There is no reason to believe that Omicron.

“The patients with Covid symptoms must get treated after testing. People should not ignore the disease at any point,” Dr Subhojyoti Bhowmik said.

Meanwhile, 267 new testing centres have been started today where 53,203 testing has been done in one day in South 24 Parganas district’s Diamond Harbour Constituency, where Abhisek Banerjee is the MP. Banerjee,

“Delighted to share that we have been able to pay appropriate tributes to Swamiji by conducting more than 50,000 tests in Diamond Harbour PC, in a single day,” Abhisek Banerjee tweeted.