West Bengal: Doctors forum urge CM Mamata to ensure 'transparency' in COVID-19 data

Amid COVID-19 lockdown, West Bengal Doctors Forum (WBDF) wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, putting forward some suggestions for perusal. This comes after CM Banerjee on Thursday said that twelve more people tested positive for COVID-19 in West Bengal, taking total number of active cases in state to 80. She said that three persons were discharged from hospital following recovery.

letter suggested measures like strict patient containment, segregation of suspected patients, a significant number of health care workers. However, most crucial point in letter stated that all data collected and published should be transparent, genuine and verifiable as doctors can't afford to send wrong signals to world. 

READ: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: PM Modi interacts with all CMs on lockdown, total cases at 7447

Mamata Banerjee May Ease Restrictions On Few Sectors After 21-day Lockdown

After chairing a meeting of trade and industry representatives at Nabanna, state secretariat, on Thursday evening, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government is exploring option of granting a partial relaxation to transport sector and allowing some industries to operate with a small workforce. While she said that state government will support Centre's decision on lockdown extension after April 14, she added that she may ease some restriction for welfare of her state amid coronavirus outbreak. 

After a meeting with trade and industry representatives, Banerjee said state government is contemplating idea of minimal transportation like giving a go-ahead to taxis to hit streets again, but carrying t more than four persons, including driver. "We have already allowed home delivery of food and or goods. Some kind of transportation is needed (for movement of various goods) but t in a mass manner. But whatever we do, it has to be done houring lockdown for sake of human lives," she said.

READ: PM Modi interacts with all states' CMs to decide on extension of nationwide Covid lockdown

Meanwhile, as per health ministry, India has conducted 1,44,910 tests on 130,792 suspected COVID-19 patients in 146 government and 67 private laboratories. country till Saturday reported 1035 new cases in last 24 hours, sharpest ever increase in cases and 40 deaths, bringing number of confirmed cases to 7447. Over 642 patients have recovered and been discharged. 

READ: West Bengal: KMC contradicts State Govt's COVID-19 death toll, BJP targets TMC

READ: WB CM Mamata Banerjee may ease restrictions on few sectors after 21-day lockdown