Amidst the coronavirus outbreak, Mamata Banerjee finding faults with the Centre

The world grappling with the novel coronavirus outbreak and every government heads all across the globe and people are taking precautionary measures to safeguard themselves and society. The Indian government with the leadership of PM Modi has also addressed the country reassuring them that with proper measures we can all combat the deadly virus.  With escalating number of cases in the country, the government also urged employees to work from home and has specified that individuals  below 10 and above 65 should not venture outside.

 In the midst of the scare Bengal CM seems to be still finding faults with the  Centre . Banerjee has  lashed out at the Centre  allegedly for not sending medical kits which is required to fight  the outbreak of COVID-19, in time. She has also requested the Union government to give permission for more laboratories could come up in the state. She said that there is no use if the permission is not given immediately.

 There have been two cases reported in Bengal the first one being an 18-year-old boy and now a man in his early twenties. Both had returned from the UK. The situation in Bengal is also quite grim like other parts of the country and seven people, who recently had returned from abroad were  admitted to the isolation ward of Beliaghata ID hospital with coronavirus-like symptoms, as per  senior official of the health department. Two of the seven had reportedly come in contact with a coronavirus patient. Swabs of all the patients have been collected.

 Earlier the first individual who has tested positive had returned from the UK and initially evaded initial  screening using bureaucratic connections. and questions are being raised on the Mamata government as the individual's mother is a part of Mamata Banerjee government's administration. On arrival in Kolkata airport, the patient did not show any symptoms, however, officials at the airport were planning to quarantine him. But, his mother allegedly took advantage of her position and took him out after which took him home. Later the patient started showing symptoms of the coronavirus and then he tested positive. There was a lot of panics created as the patient's mother works at Nabanna where the CM also sits. The mother had met with officials in the building after meeting his son and the entire building was sanitized. After that the incident snowballed into a controversy.

Later Mamata Banerjee criticized the VIP culture and mentioned that no one will be spared if one tries to use any sort of influence. The incident has also pointed fingers at the state administration and its lapses  So many believe that instead of blaming the Centre of delay Banerjee should first look into the administration matters of her state more seriously.  At times like these, the Centre and the states should work jointly to fight the crisis situation.

However, considering the seriousness of the situation Banerjee has urged the people of Bengal to work together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stay indoors. She urged people to follow and join hands together and fight the pandemic.

Banerjee in the wake of the crisis  made a host of  announcements, including the creation of a state emergency relief fund to collect aid from those willing to donate.

The state-run and private hospitals of Bengal  are being equipped with ambulances, ventilators and emergency medical kits including masks and personal protective gears to prepare for a contingency in case of a sudden outbreak of COVID-19 in the state with the help of the Bengal government.

 Mamata Banerjee after interacting with PM Modi said that she has requested the Centre to come up with a relief package for the unorganised sector, which is suffering due to COVID-19 pandemic. She also said that she has asked the PM to stop all international flights to Bengal at the moment The state shares borders with three countries. Banerjee also said she sought permission for private operators to conduct medical tests

 There has been a drastic rise in the total number of Covid 19 cases in. At present, there are 258 COVID-19 patients in India. Of these, 219 are Indians and 39 are foreign nationals. As per the data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are 231 active coronavirus cases in the country, according to the Th death toll due to the virus rose alarmingly in India. Deaths were reported from Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra and Punjab. Now the fear is that of the community transmission which might lead to an unprecedented explosion and for that every individual should be responsible enough to follow the measures and norms as per the national and state governments.