COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal: Difference between revisions

{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

| name           =

| arrival_date    = 18 .March 2020<br>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=03|day1=18|year1=2020|month2=|day2=|year2=}})

| date            = 28 May 2021

| confirmed_cases = 13,43,442

| active_cases    = 1,09,806

| recovery_cases  = 12,18,516

| deaths          = 15,120

| fatality_rate  = 1.12%

The [[COVID-19 pandemic]] was first confirmed in the Indian state of [[West Bengal]] on 17 March 2020 in [[Kolkata]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/west-bengal-reports-first-positive-case-of-coronavirus/articleshow/74680463.cms|title=West Bengal reports first positive case of coronavirus|date=2020-03-18|work=India Times}}</ref> <!-- The confirmed, death and recovery cases are fetched from the Wikidata; Kindly don't delete the codes below. It will update automatically-->The [[Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (West Bengal)|Health and Family Welfare department]] of [[Government of West Bengal]] has confirmed a total of 13,43,442 COVID-19 positive cases, including 1,09,806 active cases, 15,120 deaths and 12,18,516 recoveries, as of 28 May 2021 .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/uploaded_files/corona/WB_DHFW_Bulletin_9th_MAY_REPORT_FINAL1.pdf|title=WEST BENGAL COVID-19 HEALTH BULLETIN – 9 th MAY 2021|publisher=wbhealth.gov.in|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=West Bengal|url=https://www.covid19india.org/state/WB|access-date=26 July 2020|website=covid19india}}{{Dead link|date=February 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

'''1 April''': One male, aged 57 years having [[kidney failure]] and one male, aged 62 years having [[hypertension|high blood pressure]] and other co-morbid conditions, expired early in the morning. Both of them were reportedly tested positive, which is a subject to confirmation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/uploaded_files/corona/Bulletin_West_Bengal_01.04_.2020_.pdf|title=nCoV bulletin as on 01.04.2020|website=WB Health Portal}}</ref>

 

 

* Total Number of Govt. Hospitals treating COVID-19: 27<ref name=":0" />

* Total Number of Pvt. Hospitals treating COVID-19: 54

  | x = 2020-03-18,2020-03-19,2020-03-20,2020-03-21,2020-03-22,2020-03-23,2020-03-24,2020-03-25,2020-03-26,2020-03-27,2020-03-28,2020-03-29,2020-03-30,2020-03-31,2020-04-01,2020-04-02,2020-04-03,2020-04-04,2020-04-05,2020-04-06,2020-04-07,2020-04-08,2020-04-09,2020-04-10,2020-04-11,2020-04-12,2020-04-13,2020-04-14,2020-04-15,2020-04-16,2020-04-17,2020-04-18,2586020-04-19,2020-04-20,2020-04-21,2020-04-22,2020-04-23,2020-04-24,2020-04-25,2020-04-26,2020-04-27,2020-04-28, 2020-04-29, 2020-04-30, 2020-05-01, 2020-05-02, 2020-05-03, 2020-05-04, 2020-05-05, 2020-05-06, 2020-05-07, 2020-05-08, 2020-05-09, 2020-05-10,2020-05-19, 2020-05-23, 2020-05-24, 2020-05-28, 2020-05-29, 2020-05-30, 2020-06-05

  | y1= 77,,87,107,111,128,176,242,269,330, 365,437,487,539,605,,1042,,1301,1487,1657,1889,2095,2286,2523,2793,3081, 3470,3811,4212,4630,5045,5469,6182, 7037,7990, 8933, 9880, 10893, 12043,13223, 14620, 16525, 18566, 20976, 22915, 25116, 27571, 30141, 32752, 35767, 39368, 43414, 102282, 129608, 138824, 175769, 185051, 194397, 251517

[[Chief Minister of West Bengal]] [[Mamata Banerjee]] and her government was widely criticised of the handling of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]] and was accused of concealing facts by the opposition and critics.<ref name="FBCOVID" >{{cite news |url =https://www.firstpost.com/india/coronavirus-outbreak-mamata-banerjee-displays-little-cooperation-even-as-opposition-unites-to-stand-behind-centre-8239541.html|quote=Again, on 2 April, while seven coronavirus deaths in the state were confirmed by its health department, the figure was soon revised to three. |title =Coronavirus Outbreak: Mamata Banerjee displays little cooperation even as Opposition unites to stand behind Centre|publisher =Firstpost |author =Debobrat Ghose|date= 8 April 2020|access-date =9 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="IndiaTodayCovid">{{cite news |url =https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/bjp-mamata-banerjee-coronavirus-bengal-tablighi-jamaat-1664619-2020-04-08|title =Is hiding Jamaat cases about vote bank: BJP asks Mamata on Bengal coronavirus numbers|date= 8 April 2020|access-date = 9 April 2020 |quote =The BJP has accused Mamata Banerjee of indulging in vote bank politics after the West Bengal Chief Minister refused to share update on those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, identified as a hotspot for the spread of novel coronavirus.|publisher =India Today}}</ref> The opposition accused Mamata of playing “appeasement politics” amid the COVID-19 crisis. On 1 April, Banerjee claimed that the [[West Bengal Government]] have already traced 54 people who attended the [[Tablighi Jamaat]] religious gathering during the COVID-19 Outbreak, and 44 of them are foreigners. Although according to a report by central security agencies, 232 people had attended the Delhi's Tablighi Jamaat event from West Bengal. Of this, 123 are Indian nationals and 109 are foreigners.<ref name="IndiaTodayCovid"/><ref name="CovidPrint">{{cite news |url =https://theprint.in/politics/mamata-calls-questions-on-tablighi-event-communal-avoids-giving-any-answers/397453/|publisher =ThePrint|title =Mamata calls questions on Tablighi event 'communal', avoids giving any answers|quote =West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday declined to give an update on the status of the people from the state who had attended Delhi’s Tablighi Jamaat congregation, telling the media to not ask “communal questions”.|date=7 April 2020|author=Madhuparna Das|access-date =9 April 2020}}</ref> Sooner she clarified that her government has acted swiftly after the Nizamuddin area was declared as a hotspot where nearly 2,300 people were staying despite the lockdown. She further added that the government has quarantined 177 people, including 108 foreigners, who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-reveals-tablighi-jamaat-figure-108-foreigners-69-other-attendees-quarantined-in-west-bengal/1923296/|title=Mamata Banerjee reveals Tablighi Jamaat figure: 108 foreigners, 69 other attendees quarantined in West Bengal|work=Financial Express|date=2020-04-09}}</ref><ref>[http://www.businessworld.in/article/177-Tablighi-Jamaat-Attendees-Quarantined-In-WB-Says-Mamata-Banerjee/09-04-2020-188663/ 177 Tablighi Jamaat Attendees Quarantined In WB Says Mamata Banerjee - BW Businessworld<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tablighi-jamaat-case-108-foreigners-69-other-attendees-quarantined-in-west-bengal-291541|title=Tablighi Jamaat case: 108 foreigners, 69 other attendees quarantined in West Bengal|work=WION|date=2020-04-09}}</ref>

The West Bengal Government has been also criticised for not sending enough samples to the [[National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases]] (NICED) for testing.<ref>{{cite news |url =https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/central-lab-says-mamata-govt-not-sending-enough-samples-for-covid-19-tests-as-bengal-reports-fewer-cases-1666467-2020-04-13|title =Mamata govt not sending enough samples for Covid-19 testing, says central lab director|date =April 13, 2020|publisher =[[India Today]] |quote =Responding to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s complaints about lack of testing kits in West Bengal, Dutta said ICMR has dispatched 42,500 kits to NICED so far.|author =Indrajit Kundu|location =[[Kolkata]]|access-date =14 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url =https://thewire.in/government/west-bengal-covid-19-testing|title =COVID-19: Data Shows West Bengal's Testing Is the Lowest Among Larger States|publisher =[[The Wire]]|quote =West Bengal has conducted 1,889 tests as on April 9, according to the data furnished by the state health department. A total of 144,910 samples from 130,792 individuals have been tested as on April 9, 2020, 9 pm across India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said.|location =[[Kolkata]] |date =11 April 2020|author =Himadri Ghosh|access-date =14 April 2020}}</ref> West Bengal test numbers saw some rise after talks between government and NICED. According to them, this will be scaled up further in coming days.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/bengal-test-numbers-rise-after-talks-between-govt-and-niced/articleshow/75130638.cms |title=West Bengal test numbers rise after talks between government and NICED &#124; Kolkata News - Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2020-04-14 |access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>

The West Bengal Government has also been recommended to ensure transparency, genuine and verifiable data of COVID-19 by the West Bengal Doctors Forum (WBDF), as doctors cannot afford to send wrong signals to the world.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/doctors-forum-urge-cm-mamata-to-ensure-transparency-in-covid-19-data.html|title=West Bengal Doctors Forum: transparency in COVID-19 Data |website=republicworld.com}}</ref> The doctors also hit out at the idea of the bureaucratic system to identify the death of COVID-19 patients. Their spokesperson claimed that every doctor is qualified enough and does not need a committee for such certification.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-doctors-forum-hits-out-at-govt-says-not-enough-tests-being-conducted-1667141-2020-04-15 |title=West Bengal doctors forum hits out at govt, says not enough tests being conducted |website=indiatoday.in |date=15 April 2020}}</ref>

{{quote|There were a large number of patients in the isolation wards of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) as well as MR Bangur hospitals awaiting COVID test results for five days or longer. Specifically at CNCI, there were four patients awaiting test result since April 16, 2020, two patients awaiting test result since April 17, 2020, and three since April 18, 2020. Some of the patients have tested negative. It is not clear why the test results should take such a long time and there is a danger of COVID-19 negative patient acquiring the infection in the hospital while awaiting test result<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.news18.com/amp/news/india/imct-seeks-report-on-audit-committee-bengal-says-panel-set-up-to-keep-track-of-direct-covid-19-deaths-2591585.html|title=Bengal Admits 57 COVID-19 Patients Died, But Says 39 From Comorbidities After Central Team Seeks Report}}</ref>}}

On February 18, 2021, [[CNN-News18]] published an [https://www.news18.com/news/tech/west-bengal-health-dept-1-lakh-covid-19-reports-exposed-3448106.html article] on their site by the headline "[https://www.news18.com/news/tech/west-bengal-health-dept-1-lakh-covid-19-reports-exposed-3448106.html West Bengal Health Dept Left Over 1 Lakh Covid-19 Reports Exposed to Public Search]". According to the article by CNN-News18, '''Sourajeet Majumder''' an independent security researcher discovered that the official Government [https://www.wbhealth.gov.in site] of West Bengal Health & Family Welfare Department was leaking over 1 Lakh reports of COVID-19 tests done in the state. These reports contained sensitive information in them like patient's name, age, residence address, address of referring hospital (in some cases) and the exact date and time of testing which according to Sourajeet could be easily accessed by anyone and could contribute significantly to identity scams, cyber blackmail efforts and identity thefts.

Many Non Government Organizations, Clubs, Religious Organizations, Political Parties, Persons and NRIs take part in COVID 19 Pandemic control besides Government Efforts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Civic organizations come forward to lend their helping hands amid Covid crisis in West Bengal|url=http://newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=416719|access-date=2021-05-20|website=newsonair.com}}</ref> West Bengal Doctors Forum, a Non Government Organization of Doctors joined hands with SwitchON to provide free telemedicine services.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=B|first1=Krishnendu|last2=yopadhyay|last3=May 11|first3=Sumati Yengkhom / TNN /|last4=2021|last5=Ist|first5=00:26|title=Docs, NGOs join hands to help patients with Cov care {{!}} Kolkata News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/docs-ngos-join-hands-to-help-patients-with-cov-care/articleshow/82533835.cms|access-date=2021-05-20|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> In light of increased oxygen demand in second wave of COVID-19, a Kolkata based NGO Liver Foundation in collaboration with the West Bengal government's health department started a project called 'Oxygen on Wheels' to provide free oxygen to those in need.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=KolkataMay 15|first1=Suryagni Roy|last2=May 15|first2=2021UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2021 08:54|title='Oxygen on Wheels': NGO to provide free oxygen to Kolkata's Covid patients|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/kolkata/story/-oxygen-on-wheels-ngo-to-provide-free-oxygen-to-kolkata-s-covid-patients-1802762-2021-05-15|access-date=2021-05-20|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> Doctors from R.G. Kar Medical College developed People Care Network App to organize COVID-19 related leads and resources to help citizens.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-06|title=কোথা থেকে পাবেন অক্সিজেন? খোঁজ দেবে R.G Kar হাসপাতালের জুনিয়র ডাক্তারের তৈরি অ্যাপ|url=https://zeenews.india.com/bengali/technology/where-do-you-get-oxygen-find-the-app-created-by-rg-kar-hospitals-junior-doctor_380378.html|access-date=2021-05-20|website=Zee24Ghanta.com}}</ref> An NGO from West Bengal, working for underprivileged started locating people with COVID-19 Symptoms and providing medical help. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Covid: City-based NGO team to locate people with symptoms|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/calcutta/city-based-ngo-team-to-to-locate-people-with-covid-symptoms-and-provide-medical-help/cid/1815625|access-date=2021-05-20|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> Red Volunteers are providing ground level helps to COVID-19 affected citizens. <ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-26|title=Red Volunteers Swing to Action as West Bengal Faces Covid Crisis with 15,889 New Cases|url=https://www.newsclick.in/red-volunteers-swing-action-west-bengal-faces-covid-crisis-15889-new-cases|access-date=2021-05-20|website=NewsClick|language=en}}</ref>  

|{{string split|txt={{#statements:P1603}}|sep=" "|idx=-1}}

| style=" text-align:right" |{{string split|txt={{#statements:P8010}}|sep=" "|idx=-1}}

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|<small>Data provided by the [[Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (West Bengal)|Health and Family Welfare department]] as of {{MultiReplace|{{Wdib |ps=1|P1603|qual=P585|list=P-1|df=dmy}}|.*%((.*)%)|%1}}.</small><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=WEST BENGAL COVID-19 HEALTH BULLETIN|url=https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/uploaded_files/corona/WB_DHFW_Bulletin_16th_AUGUST_REPORT_FINAL.pdf|access-date=9 Aug 2020|website=wbhealth.gov.in}}</ref>

The West Bengal government on Monday released a list, saying four districts, including Kolkata, have been declared as red zones in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, and 348 areas as containment zones,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edukareonline.in/bulletin/articles/red-zones-containment-zones/#List_of_Containment_zones|title=List of Containment Zones declared on 27 April, 2020|website=EduKare Bulletin|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> out of which Kolkata has 227. There are some districts in Orange & Green zones. The lockdown process will be strict in those Red Zone Containment areas. Some relaxation will be given to Orange zones and Most relaxation will be given to Green Zones.