Markets in Bengal not shutting down, will take strict action against rumour-mongers: Mamata

She also warned of strict action against those who are spreading such rumours.

Speaking during a press conference, Banerjee said: "I heard there have been rumours that markets will be shut down soon and people are rushing to buy daily essential commodities. I can confirm that there is no such situation in the state and we will take strict action against the rumour mongers."

"We have more than enough products in our stocks, no need to worry about it," she said.

Addressing the representatives of private hospitals of her state, the Bengal CM said: "This is not a time for business. We have to work together to combat coronavirus. We need your cooperation to fight Covid-19."

She informed that at present there are 22 beds in Beliaghata ID's isolation unit and it will be increased to 100.

"In R.G.Kar Medical College & Hospital's night shelter building, 50 isolation beds will be set up. In the new building of M.R.Bangur hospital, 150 isolation beds will be set up. In Rajarhat's quarantine centre, there will be a new setup soon with 500 beds," Banerjee said.

She also made it clear that those doctors who recently returned from abroad will have to stay in home isolation or quarantine.

"We have ordered 300 ventilators for our hospitals and of those, we have already received 70 ventilators and we are expecting to get the remaining in the next 20 days," the WB CM informed.

She also requested private hospitals to increase the number of ventilators in their facilities.

"We will provide each private hospital 100 personal protective equipment and face masks," said Banerjee.

"An adequate number of masks and other protective equipment shall be delivered to all the district hospitals as soon as possible," she added.

Banerjee asked the representatives of private hospitals to stay connected with the health secretary to receive timely updates on the action required.

"As there is no guideline related to Covid-19 test in private healthcare facilities so far from the Centre. Whenever we receive the notification, we will let all private hospitals know about that. I would ask the representatives of the private setups to connect our health secretary through a Whatsapp group to exchange regular updates on it," she said.

The Bengal government, meanwhile, ordered a large number of face masks while its own facilities are currently manufacturing protective masks.

"We have also ordered 200,000 face masks, 200,000 protective dresses & 30,000 pairs of gloves & 10,000 thermal imaging equipment," said Banerjee.

"10 ambulances have to stay stand by at Beliaghata Id hospital and at least 5 each in other hospitals," she directed during the media briefing.

She also alleged that the Centre was not sending adequate kits to fight Covid-19.

West Bengal so far registered one Covid-19 positive case after a youth got infected while he was returning home from London via Mumbai.

The Covid-19 infected youth is currently undergoing treatment in a stable condition in Beliaghata ID hospital, and his parents and two drivers have been kept in hospital isolation while they were found negative for novel coronavirus after the first test on Wednesday.

Amid the lockdown in various cities, the total positive Novel Coronavirus cases including the cured and deaths in India rose to 184 on Thursday. Four deaths have been recorded in the country so far due to the virus.

Images: IBNS File