"Don't Want To Presume...": Mamata Banerjee On Bengal's Covid Readiness

Gangasagar Mela (January 8-17) will go ahead, and precautions will be taken if there are cases of coronavirus infection, says Chief Minister

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said while the state is keeping an eye on the Covid situation after a recent spurt in China, the Gangasagar Mela (January 8-17) will go ahead. 

“It will be systematic,” she said, when asked if the state was moving towards restrictions, “No, there is nothing here. If something happens, we will take precautions.”

On risks over transmission as there will be large crowds during the New Year festive season, she said, “Will people not celebrate festivals? If (a coronavirus surge) comes here, we will ask people to wear masks and take precautions. We can't restrict so many people. Lakhs of people attend celebrations... I don't want to presume it will come here. ”

However, based on an advisory from the union government, the state has issued a circular to health authorities to step up surveillance and genome sequencing to determine which variant is prevalent.