Ignoring Coronavirus protocol unacceptable, says Mamata

Kolkata: Stating it to be "an irresponsible behaviour", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lashed out at those who put forward their "VIP status" instead of taking precautionary measures to avoid spreading of COVID-19.

This comes a day after the matter came to light of an 18-year-old son of a senior bureaucrat returning to Kolkata from England after being affected with the disease and visiting different places instead of getting admitted to the hospital, leaving several others vulnerable to the infection.

Banerjee said: "Irrespective of their status, one must go for a test if they are coming from outside the country."

Without mentioning the bureaucrat's details, the Chief Minister added: "The case has pointed out that it was sheer irresponsibility. It is not right if someone moves out freely and goes to shopping malls or parks after returning to Kolkata from abroad without taking precautionary measures."

She further said: "There can be someone influential in a family. But it is not acceptable if one skips necessary tests just because he or she is from the same family."

"I don't know what sort of screening took place at the international airport as it had not been identified. But the main thing is he delayed taking precautions even when he was advised by doctors in Kolkata to stay at home. Instead, he roamed around, visited different places and came in contact with several people," she said adding that she would appeal to all once again to take necessary precautionary measures instead of taking it casually.

While speaking about the people returning to Kolkata from abroad, Banerjee said: "Most schools and colleges were closed in different countries. So people are returning to their homeland. I welcome all, but not the disease. Around 95,000 have returned to Kolkata from foreign countries so far. I would like to urge all to take necessary precautionary measures and if needed to go for home quarantine for 15 to 27 days after returning from abroad."

Banerjee has also announced that rosters will be prepared for state government employees so that all do not move out of home at the same time as it creates heavy gathering in buses and trains. The employees can leave at 4 pm till the situation normalises.

She further maintained that if any state government employee is ill then he or she can send online medical leave application through their department/s and the matter will be looked into by Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha.