Spike in Covid-19 cases: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to hold stocktaking meet

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a high-level virtual meeting on Thursday with ministers, chief secretary, home secretary and administrative officials of various districts on imposing more stringent curbs amid a spike in Covid-19 cases.

West Bengal on Wednesday reported 14,022 fresh cases, 4,949 more than the previous day. Containment zones in Kolkata were increased from 25 to 48 as the city reported 6,170 cases.

Meanwhile, there is serious concern over Covid-19 infections spreading among state-run hospital doctors, healthcare workers and police.


The meeting would evaluate the Covid-19 situation across the state in the presence of all ministers, said state secretariat Nabanna sources. The state government on Wednesday postponed the 27th Kolkata International Film Festival scheduled to be held between January 7 and 14. "After assessing the present Covid situation...the state government...has decided to temporarily postpone the festival," read the Nabanna statement.