KOLKATA: From over 1,300 fresh Covid cases daily a week ago, the number in the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) area has been on a decline, to only 420 new cases reported on Tuesday. However, there has been a sudden surge in Covid deaths with seven reported in the last eight days.
The number of daily new Covid cases has been declining since January 15. Daily cases in the BMC area had broken the 1,000 mark to reach an all-time high of 1,312 on January 10. On January 14, a total of 1,233 new cases were reported, after which, the number dipped below the 1,000 mark the next day with 903 cases reported. The number further declined to 767 on January 16, 557 on January 17 and 420 on January 18.
The civic authorities, however, said the decline may be due to fewer people undergoing Covid tests despite having mild symptoms. “With the majority of people only showing mild symptoms of fever, body ache, sore throat and cough, many are not undergoing tests. This may be one of the reasons why the daily numbers are on the decline,” said a civic official.
As of now, there are around 8,000 active Covid cases in the BMC area. Over 55,400 people have been affected by Covid since March 2020, when the first Covid case was reported in BMC and a total of 369 Covid deaths have occurred till date. There are 14 micro-containment zones across BMC at present.
The number of daily Covid cases has also come down in the adjacent South Dum Dum municipality area in the last few days. From about 150 daily cases reported last week, only about 50 were reported on Tuesday. At present, there are 17 micro-containment zones in the South Dum Dum civic body area. The civic authorities are keeping markets and commercial establishments shut thrice a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, when thorough sanitisation is taking place. This will continue till the end of this month, after which, the authorities will review the situation.
