3 persons test positive for Covid-19 in Bengal

KOLKATA: Three individuals, including a six-month-old baby, have tested positive for COVID-19 in West Bengal, officials reported on Friday. However, it has not been confirmed whether the trio was infected with the new JN.1 strain of COVID-19, they stated.The baby, who hails from neighboring Bihar, is currently receiving treatment at the Medical College and Hospital Kolkata (MCHK), while the other two are admitted to two separate private hospitals, officials said."They were experiencing high fever, cough, and cold and underwent RT-PCR, testing positive for COVID-19," stated an official from one of the private hospitals.When reached for comment, a senior official from the West Bengal Health Department mentioned that they are "keeping an eye" on the situation."The state health department has never claimed that COVID-19 has been eradicated. We need to understand that it is here to stay. So far, we haven't encountered any such cases. However, our department remains vigilant," the official informed PTI.The state health department will persist in its surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases, following the guidelines of the Centre, he added.On Wednesday, the West Bengal Health Department, along with other states, participated in a COVID-19 review meeting with the Union Health Ministry.