West Bengal: Mandatory COVID-19 tests for people present in meeting with Mamata Banerjee at Kharagpur

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee left for a tour of another district. On October 6, she held a meeting with the administrative officials of West Midnapore district in Kharagpur. Not only officials of different departments, but also the government allowance recipients were examined by the officials of the health department before they entered the meeting venue.

The number of COVID cases is increasing in the state. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had postponed her district tour for six months for fear of the infection. Virtually, she held meetings with the administrative officials of several districts.

The chief minister visited North Bengal for the first time since the pandemic in late September. However, she held a virtual administrative meeting from Uttarkanya in Siliguri.
 

The chief minister reached Kharagpur on October 6 for a two-day visit. This time, Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with administrative officials of West Midnapore while sitting face to face. She also distributed cheques to beneficiaries of government projects.

There was tight security. The administration was also vigilant before the meeting of the chief minister to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. Health officials were present at the temporary camp in the open field at the entrance of the meeting venue.

 Everyone who came to the chief minister's meeting to discuss government projects were allowed to enter the meeting only after being examined by officials of the health department. In fact, several departmental officials attended the meeting virtually to avoid overcrowding.