Pandemic protocol should not be violated during Durga Puja: Mamata

Pandemic protocol should not be violated during Durga Puja: Mamata

“People should go for shopping. Shops will remain open. Otherwise, how will they do business? But while shopping for the pujas people should not forget about the protocol,” she said.

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News

KHARAGPUR, 6 OCT: Cautioning the people about the rising number of COVID-19 infections in the state, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that the pandemic protocol should not be violated during the coming Durga Puja.

She said that the marquees should be made open and airy and the pandal hoppers should avoid jostling and maintain proper physical distancing.

“People should go for shopping. Shops will remain open. Otherwise, how will they do business? But while shopping for the pujas people should not forget about the protocol,” she said.

Miss Banerjee, who was speaking at an administrative meeting at Kharagpur, asked the police to disburse the one time grant of Rs 50,000 to each puja committee in West Midnapore district.

“Police must ensure that all the puja committees in the district get the grant. I have entrusted you (police) to disburse the money but not the panchayat department or my party. Do not listen to what a panchayat member tells you about the grant,” she said.

While taking stock of Covid-19 situation in West Midnapore district, Miss Banerjee asked the district magistrate and Chief Medical Officer of Health to monitor Cycle Threshold (CT) value of the patients who tested positive for Covid-19.

“The government is now providing CT value on Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test reports of patients who tested positive for Covid-19. The Covid patients who have below 20 CT value can spread infections. So, you will have to keep vigil on the patients having below 20 CT value. If you remember this and implement plans accordingly, you can check the spread of infections in your district”, Miss Banerjee said.

Miss Banerjee said the cycle threshold (CT) value of an RT-PCR test which can give useful information to doctors treating a coronavirus patient, of the affected people should be noted to ascertain the degree of risk.

Those diagnosed with CT value above 20 could be in home isolation but everyday monitoring should be done by the district administration, Banerjee said.

“A person who has a CT value below 20 is considered critical as the viral load of such patients will be maximum. I think we can segregate and create a list of patients who are diagnosed with CT value below 20. They are those who spread the virus.

“Those who are above CT 20 can be in home isolation. But they must not forget to wear masks and maintain physical distance,” Miss Banerjee said.

“We have to provide the right treatment to those with co-morbidities. They should be called every day to find out about their health condition,” she said.

The chief minister urged the West Midnapore district officials to work so that the death rate in the area due to the pandemic is below one per cent.

Announcing a slew of sops ahead of next year's assembly elections, she directed officials in the district to clear all the necessary work so that funds meant for 'Kanyashree', 'Sikhasree', 'Sabuj Sathi' schemes and pension meant for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are disbursed on time.

The chief minister also stressed on monitoring the public distribution system, Swasthya Sathi scheme and said, "People belonging to the scheduled caste, will get the Joy Bangla pension immediately after reaching the age of 60 years.

“We are paying pension to over a lakh of people. Clear it for the month of October, November,” she said.