CM: Cov is now endemic, Bengal is fully prepared
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Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged people not to panic over the current Covid situation, reminding them that the pandemic had now turned endemic.
"That means it's a manageable local health issue, not a global emergency.
We must learn to live with it responsibly. We saw a handful of 4,000-5,000 cases across the country. It is a type of influenza, an Omicron virus.
People should not be afraid. Normalcy is there. But precautions should be taken on a personal level," the CM said. "Bengal is fully prepared."
Banerjee chaired an emergency meeting on Covid with chief secretary Manoj Pant, health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, DGP Rajeev Kumar, KP commissioner Manoj Verma and minister Chandrima Bhattacharya among others on Monday at Nabanna.
"I held review meetings with all departments. If needed, we may resume testing and advise mask use. But for now, we are not implementing any new guidelines," said Banerjee. "Bengal has been a frontrunner in vaccination.
That's why there's no reason to worry, but we must act responsibly." She urged people to stay clear of rumours on social media and trust only official govt sources.
"Don't create panic. For those who have comorbidities...
sometimes age is also a factor... we have arrangements. Now, we have the anti-Covid vaccine, and many are inoculated. We held the meeting to be prepared for the future so that people don't face any problem. We are not taking any decision now because such a situation has not arisen," Banerjee reiterated.
The CM said cold, cough and sore throat were often mistaken for Covid, causing fear. "We get scared when we hear the word, 'Covid'. But the Covid situation in Bengal is under control. If you have a cold or cough, consult a doctor, but don't panic," the CM advised. "The govt will stand by you. Get treated at govt hospitals so that you don't have to pay a hefty amount unnecessarily."
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