Bengal role model in fight against COVID-19: Mamata
Kolkata: The state has become the role model in fighting the COVID-19 situation, claimed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while addressing the media at Nabanna on Friday.
"Bengal has witnessed the best lockdown situation with people responding to our appeal in taking precautionary measures to check the spread of the disease," she said, adding that COVID-19 patients at Beliaghata ID Hospital are in good health at present with only four testing positive on Friday, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 38.
She further added: "I am thankful to the people of the state for responding so well to our appeal. Law and order situation has been maintained, food for all through the public distribution system has been ensured, a gathering of people has been avoided to check community transmission and police personnel have donated blood to save lives. So many activities have been carried out simultaneously. Only Bengal can do this and hence, it has become a role model."
Her government has ensured distribution of free-of-cost rice and wheat among 7.85 crore people of the state till September and also announced the distribution of 5 kg rice each among additional 20 lakh people who are from economically weaker sections. The distribution of the same has already started. The Chief Minister on Friday once again requested people to maintain a safe distance while collecting foodgrains from the ration shops, with the same rules applying at marketplaces and sweet shops. In connection with the distribution of foodgrains, Banerjee urged people not to do politics as she had come to know that some were trying to instigate customers at the ration shops and providing wrong information.
Despite the poor financial condition of the state as all business establishments are shut, the Mamata Banerjee government has ensured salaries of all state government employees on the first day of the month itself unlike many of its counterparts.
Banerjee has herself sent masks for the rice mill workers and released two-month pension of 35.10 lakh people; including the "Jai Bangla" beneficiaries.
She further added that the state government is constantly keeping in touch with around 1.5 lakh migrant labourers from Bengal who are stuck in different parts of the country and a nodal officer has been appointed for the same.
The Chief Minister also expressed her happiness as she came to know that those who had tested positive and were admitted at Beliaghata ID Hospital, are in good health. She said: "I pray for their speedy recovery so that they can return home as early as possible. It is a good sign that people are recovering. Twelve people have recovered at the hospital. Three have been released earlier while nine will also be sent home soon."
Urging people to be humane, Banerjee stated that it would not be proper if someone restricts setting up of a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in their area or cremation of a person who has died due to the disease.
Dedicated COVID-19 hospitals have been set up in every district. She further said all patients of MR Bangur Hospital, apart from those suffering from COVID-19, will be shifted to SSKM Hospital. Banerjee expressed annoyance in connection with an incident at the College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital and stated that it is unacceptable that people will not get treatment if they visit the hospital with cold and cough.
Talking about the present situation of COVID-19 in the state, Banerjee said 2,936 persons were released from home quarantine while 52,029 are still in home isolation. Out of 5,110, who are in a government quarantine, as many as 3,218 persons have been released and 1,892 are still at 206 government quarantine centres. At present, there are 59 COVID-19 hospitals in the state, she said.
