India red flags West Bengal’s rising Covid cases

India's federal government has red flagged the rising number of fresh Covid-19 cases in West Bengal, particularly in Kolkata, after the Durga Puja festival and asked authorities to expedite administering second dose of the vaccine and ensure strict adherence to Covid protocols.

West Bengal recorded 806 new Covid-19 cases for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting the state health department data.

The state's cumulative tally of cases rose to 15,88,066 while 15 fresh fatalities took the death toll to 19,081.

The numbers of fresh coronavirus cases on Sunday and Saturday were 989 and 974 respectively.

In a letter to West Bengal health secretary, Indian Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan expressed concern over the increasing Covid cases.

Kolkata has reported a high quantum of average daily new Covid-19 cases in the week ending on October 21 along with more than 25 percent increase over the past week.

Bhushan said if the rising trend of cases goes unchecked, it may severely strain West Bengal's health facilities.

Of the fresh infections on Tuesday, Kolkata accounted for 248, the maximum in the state. It also logged six of the 15 new deaths in West Bengal.

As the West Bengal government relaxed Covid-19 curbs during the Durga Puja celebrations, there were reports of rampant major violations of Covid protocols as lakhs of people, many of them without masks, had swarmed thousands of puja pandals without maintaining social distancing.

The state government had also allowed restaurants to operate till late into the night during the puja days which saw people taking full advantage of the opportunity throwing Covid cautions to the wind.