West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee conducted a high level meeting at the state secretariat to review Covid preparedness amid a surge in cases. The state has reported 747 active cases, among the highest in the country. CM Banerjee reassured the public that there is ‘no need to panic’ at present and to just exercise caution. According to the CM, the situation remains under control. The meeting included officials from departments such as Health, Panchayat, Urban Development, Police and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
CM Banerjee stressed that the state is well equipped to handle the crisis. She revealed government hospitals have an abundant supply of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines. She asked the public to reach out to government hospitals instead of private ones to avoid excess spending on account of them being adequately equipped.. She has urged citizens, particularly those with comorbidities and the elderly, to be cautious. The CM believes that the current cases (at around 4000 to 5,000 nationwide) are not alarming given India’s population of 130 crore. The CM referred to the World Health Organization not classifying Covid-19. She said, “it is a kind of virus similar to influenza.”
The review meeting was prompted by a recent uptick in cases, potentially linked to the XFG subvariant. The XFG variant is reportedly immune evasive. In the meantime, West Bengal reported its 2nd covid death in this wave. Babulal Singh, a resident of Hatibagan passed away, was admitted to Beliaghata ID hospital. The state reported a total number of 54 new cases in a day.
