On Tuesday, West Bengal recorded 9,073 Covid-19 new cases which is a jump of nearly 50% in last 24 hrs, bringing the state’s test-positivity rate to 18.96%. 4,759 fresh cases were alone reported in Kolkata.

The state Health Department has issued a new COVID treatment guideline which stated to avoid hospitalisation as much as possible especially in the case of mild symptomatic patients. It recommends hospitalization only if the patient has a fever (102 degrees pr more) or recurrent fever for at least seven days and a low pulse rate. The guidelines also excluded the use of monoclonal antibody cocktail therapy, steroids or antiviral drugs like molnupiravir as they did not receive any instructions from the Central Government regarding their use.

A senior doctor in the Health Department said that mild infections were curable if treated properly, but hospitalization of milder cases could increase the spread of infection and cause further complications, so they were stressing on reducing hospitalization. Over 200 doctors and health workers were already infected. Also, the Joint Commissioner, Additional Joint Commissioner and five Deputy Commissioner-level officers of Kolkata Police were infected in the latest infection surge.

On a concerning note, Chief Secretary Harikrishna Dwibedi said that food would be distributed to the poor affected by the recent surge in COVID. He requested all the district magistrates and police chiefs to distribute a packet containing muri (puffed rice), rice, daal, biscuits etc to those in home isolation. These essentials would be delivered to the home of the infected through the West Bengal Police.

The state government has imposed fresh restrictions since Monday with the closure of educational institutions, entertainment parks and tourist places and allowing only 50% attendance in offices and local trains. The arrival of flights from Mumbai and Delhi has been restricted to 2 days, Mondays and Fridays, from January 5. The curbs are in place till January 15.

Source: The Indian Express