West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday reviewed Covid-19 preparedness in the state amid rising cases. She assured the public that there is no cause for panic at this stage.
The Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting at the state secretariat with key officials from all major departments to assess the current situation and prepare for any potential escalation.
“Nothing to panic at present for Covid. Just need to be cautious and aware,” Banerjee said after the meeting. “We have prepared ourselves, and we’re hopeful it won’t lead to a pandemic. Still, we must remain alert and ready.”
She advised Covid-19 patients to seek treatment in government hospitals to avoid high medical expenses, and reiterated that the government has taken all necessary steps to stay prepared in case the situation worsens.
“As of now, the situation is not worrisome. We’ve had a detailed meeting with every department, and according to the official information we have, the condition is under control,” she added.
Highlighting that the World Health Organization (WHO) has not declared the current outbreak a pandemic, she said, “It’s a kind of virus similar to influenza. People with comorbidities should be especially cautious.”
As of June 9, West Bengal has reported 747 active Covid-19 cases, with 54 new infections added in the past 24 hours, according to the latest state bulletin.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has reported 6,491 active cases in India, with Kerala continuing to be the worst-affected state, recording 1,957 active cases.
Amid the recent surge, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has identified over 160 cases linked to the new XFG variant.
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