COVID-19: Bengal govt invokes Epidemic Diseases Act

Kolkata, March 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The West Bengal government on Monday invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, extended the closure of the educational institutions up to April 15, and directed that cinema halls, auditoria and shootings for reality shows be shut till March 31 to prevent spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Addressing the media after a high level meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also appealed to religious organisations to avoid public gatherings.

Railway, metro, airport authorities, Shipping Corporation of India representatives, all departments concerned of the state, as also the business chambers participated in the meeting.

"In the present situation, we shouldn't be organising such big gatherings. But it had to be done. And we have kept ample distance between every two participants," said the Chief Minister.

The state government has set up a Rs 200 crore fund, which is being utilised to order two lakh personal protection equipment and four lakh masks for those involved in combating the disease. Besides, the state was also buying ten thousand thermal guns and 300 ventilators.

Announcing that the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, was being invoked, Banerjee said 13 state governments have already given effect to the law.

"We are invoking it so that nobody can flee halfway into the treatment. It is a weapon to force people to cooperate if the government wants to arrange for their treatment," she said, while assuring that it would not be misused.

Banerjee advised people not to panic, or believe rumours. "Please don't feel ashamed if you feel sick. Please don't hide the disease."

The Chief Minister said 58 of the 59 suspects tested for the virus have been found to be negative in the state, while one result was awaited.

Altogether 2.24 lakh people have been screened, and 5,590 are in home surveillance.

Around five thousand people have contacted the call centre number made public by the state.

Two days after shutting all educational institutions from March 16 to 31 as part of the precautionary measures, the chief minister extended the closure up to April 15, pointing out that the prevalence of the deadly virus has jumped manifold everywhere in the world in the fourth week after the detection of the first cases.

However, board and university examinations would be held as per schedule.

She said the hostels of educational institutes would be closed, while teachers should work from home and it was up to the individual institutions to take a call on emergency administrative matters like salary disbursals.

Besides SSK (Shishu Shiksha Kendra) and MSK (Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra), the Integrated Child Development Services centres would also remain closed till April 15.

Banerjee directed that reality show activities, cinema halls, auditoria be closed till March 31.

The state government has decided to extend additional medical insurance policies of Rs 5 lakh each to ten lakh people -- doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, conservancy workers, accredited social health activists (ASHA), army, central police forces, rail, and other central government agencies -- involved in combating the infection.

Banerjee said the Centre has been requested to increase the number of coronavirus testing laboratories, as the state has only two such centres as of now.

Banerjee appealed to religious leaders to "avoid public gathering", but she said malls and markets should not be completely shut as that would result in people running out of supplies.

The Chief Minister requested private hospitals, nursing homes and clinics not to turn away the patients.

She also advised the various agencies to unroll plans for prevention and treatment of swine flu and dengue and arranging for isolation and rehabilitation of those affected.

Employers in tea gardens, industrial parks have been asked to arrange for sanitisers and masks for the labour force.

The state government would hold the next review meeting on March 30.

Source: IANS