Bengal has highest COVID-19 mortality rate, central team tells chief secy

West Bengal has the highest mortality rate in the country at 12.8 per cent, Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) leader Apoorva Chandra wrote in his final observations to state Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, before leaving for Delhi on Monday. "This extremely high mortality rate is a clear indication of low testing, weak surveillance and tracking," Chandra said in the letter.

A discrepancy has been brought to the fore in the number of COVID-19 cases reported by the state in its medical bulletins and its communication with the Union government, Chandra noted in the letter. The team, led by Chandra, returned to the national capital after having completed two weeks of stay in the city. 

In between Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government is yet to release any fresh orders on the extension of the coronavirus lockdown till May 17. The state government will decide the next course of action after a cabinet meet on Monday. Till now the flower markets, sweet shops with restricted timing, fruit and vegetable markets have been opening.

Even offices and factories were allowed to open after special permission from Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha. The government said it was concerned about the crops and agriculture sector, and hence, the supply chain of the same was being given special focus. On the issue of migrant labourers stranded in different states, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Baerjee said over 2,500 people from the state stranded in Rajasthan and Kerala will begin their journey back home on Monday in two special trains.