Abhijit Banerjee urges Mamata for proper reporting of Corona spread

Kolkata: Nobel Laureate Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee urged the state government on Tuesday to ensure that proper reporting on the spread of the disease gets done and COVID-19 testing facilities are made available.

He also requested that the people visiting the markets should wear masks and arrangements should be made so that they can wash their hands with soap. Banerjee had a video conference with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday afternoon in this connection.

In response to his suggestion, the Chief Minister said: "You have pointed out a very important thing. We have already set up a mobile app and the ASHA workers have been given training in the matter. They will conduct fever survey and inform about the same through the app."

The Chief Minister subsequently showed a map identifying seven areas that are vulnerable to COVID-19, calling them hotspots. However, she refused to name the areas so that people staying there do not get panicked.

"People in Bengal are often found to suffer from runny nose and other flu-like symptoms common to COVID-19. But if the testing facilities are made available then it will be easier to examine these people and spot the disease," she added.

The Nobel Laureate further said that the people visiting the markets should put on masks and water carriers and soaps should be made available nearby so that they can wash their hands. "The market committees can take initiative in the matter," he added.

Responding to his suggestion, the Chief Minister said steps would be taken to keep sanitisers in the markets, adding: "There is absolutely no reason to panic but people should be aware. In Korea and Taiwan excellent work has been done to contain spreading of the disease by keeping in mind the small but very important things."

He also suggested that the safety circles which the Chief Minister had drawn on the roads should be converted into barriers, so that people cannot cross them and come close to each other.

Besides Banerjee, the other members of the Global Advisory Board include Swapan Sarkar, ex regional director WHO, Tom Frieden, former chief of CDC, USA, Jishnu Das, economist, World Bank, JVR Prasad Rao, retired IAS officer of West Bengal cadre and former Health Secretary, Government of India, Siddhartha Dube, communication specialist, UNAIDS. Dr Sukumar Mukherjee, renowned medical practitioner, is also a member of the team, while Dr Abhijit Chowdhury, renowned public health specialist, is the convener.

Banerjee also urged the Chief Minister to take care of her own health. "I am confined to my home, but you are going to different places. Take care of your health and take adequate precautions," Banerjee said while exchanging pleasantries with the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Mamata announced on Tuesday that flower-sellers will operate in their areas from Wednesday, while the big flower markets in the city will reopen. The flower trade has been badly hit by the lockdown for the past two weeks.

Banerjee also allowed the beetle nut and leaf growers to carry on with their business. After the lockdown was clamped, people from villages were not allowed to visit their neighbouring areas, as a result of which their trade was badly hit. She said that the beedi workers would be allowed to work from their home. They should maintain one meter distance from their colleagues but the agents will have to come to their house to collect the packets maintaining all precautionary measures.

Reiterating that the US government has urged the Centre to send medicines for COVID-19, she added: "It is their matter but we will also keep our stock ready."