West Bengal bans use of phones in Covid hospitals

The West Bengal government has banned the use of mobile phones inside CCUs and ICUs by both doctors and patients, state Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said on Wednesday. However, there will be landline phones in the hospitals.

"One of the most infectious devices is the mobile we are using. Go to any sophisticated hospital these days and they will say mobile phones carry more germs than even shoes. We cannot take that risk. We have arranged for landlines and mobile phones should be kept outside the CCUs and ICUs. This is applicable to doctors, patients and everybody," Sinha said.

A total of 394 people have been infected by coronavirus in West Bengal (till Wednesday), as per the state government. However, as per Union Home and Family Welfare website a total of 456 cases have been reported from the state till April 23.


The active cases were reported from Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) areas, Howrah, Asansol and Siliguri, the chief secretary told the press yesterday.

The number of people discharged from different hospitals is 79 so far, he said adding that a total of 855 samples have been tested in West Bengal since Tuesday.

Most of these cases have happened because of family contact, Sinha said.

PTI Inputs