West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday that coronavirus infection was in the stage of “community transmission” in the state. The admission came just moments after she led a protest march in Kolkata against the Hathras gangrape case, attended by hundreds of Trinamool Congress supporters, many of whom were seen without a mask.
“We are in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic. Three of our MLAs have already died. We have no idea how many people have died across the country. Community spread has taken place,” CM Banerjee said. Expressing concern on the prevailing situation ahead of Durga Puja in the state, CM Banerjee said, “Despite so much precaution and protection we cannot fully restrict it.”“In the last few months we have not undertaken any rallies due to the coronavirus pandemic. BJP has been doing it alone, spreading hate and Covid-19 infection relentlessly,” she said, targeting the BJP.
West Bengal has recorded over 2.66 lakh Covid-19 cases so far, with 3,340 cases reported on Saturday, the higest single-day spike in recent weeks. The death toll has also breached the 5,000-mark this week, and stands at 5,132, as per the latest health department report released on Saturday.At least 62 deaths have been recorded in the past 24 hours, with 13 of them reported from Kolkata. The city has 5,590 active cases, with a total of 1,750 deaths, the highest in the state.The state government has recently released guidelines for Durga Puja celebrations which are set to commence from October 22. Around Rs 50,000 will be paid to each of the 37,000 community pandals organised by various puja committees this year.
Related Items
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth to be next Army Chief
Britain’s defence minister Healey quits over military spending
TMC will not survive.If Abhishek remains there, warns Kalyan Banerjee