NO COVID-19 CURBS IN GANGASAGAR MELA: MAMATA BANERJEE

On Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a review meeting on the COVID situation in the state.

The administrative meeting took place at Sagar island in the South 24 Parganas district. Speaking at the meeting, the Chief Minister said, “COVID cases are rising across the state. There are Omicron infections. A review of the situation is required.”

She said that schools and colleges could be closed keeping the surge in COVID cases in mind.

However, Mamata Banerjee said that no restrictions will be imposed in Gangasagar Mela. She asked, “Were there any restrictions imposed during Kumbh Mela [during Covid-19]?”

Despite the surge of Covid-19 cases in the state, Mamata Banerjee refused to impose curbs in the Gangasagar Mela. “How can we stop people who are coming to Gangasagar Mela from UP, Bihar and other far-flung areas?” she said.

Gangasagar Mela— one of the most popular melas held in Sagardwip, West Bengal— attracts thousands of pilgrims where they take a holy dip where the Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal. The mela will be held from January 8 to January 16, 2022.

The administration will deploy CCTVs and drones to keep a check on the activities of the pilgrims and also to avoid congestion.

Banerjee asked officials to identify containment zones in Kolkata and other municipalities.

She also said that offices could be asked to function with work from home mode or with 50 per cent staff attendance if necessary.

The Chief Minister said passengers coming from foreign countries are spreading COVID.

“A decision needs to be taken on the international flights coming to Kolkata. Local trains number should be reduced but it will not be completely stopped. As of now, we are not reducing the number of trains due to Ganga Sagar Mela.”

She said a decision will be taken after receiving a detailed report from Health Secretary.

West Bengal reported five more cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus on Tuesday taking the total number of patients infected by the new variant in the state to 11.

The state reported 752 new COVID cases on Tuesday.

With inputs from ANI.

West Bengal reported five more cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus on Tuesday taking the total number of patients infected by the new variant in the state to 11.