Mamata Banerjee under COVID-19 threat after neighbour tests positive

A TMC MLA, who lives near Banerjee's residence, was tested positive for COVID-19

38-Mamata-Banerjee West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

A COVID-19 positive case has been reported from Harish Chatterjee lane in Kalighat, Kolkata, where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee resides.

A Trinamool Congress MLA, who lives a few hundred yards away from the chief minister's residence, was tested positive today.

The MLA has been admitted to the hospital and is presently doing fine.

The area has been cordoned-off, with entry and exit barred. Residents have been asked to stay indoors.

The health department will conduct contact tracing and health check-up of all residents of the area, along with COVID-19 tests.

The Harish Chatterjee street is also home to Banerjee's relatives, including her nephew and MP, Abhishek Banerjee.

"A special drive is being initiated across the area. The security in the area has been tightened further," said a state health official.

More than 100 were tested positive for COVID-19 in Kolkata yesterday. The total figure has crossed the 4,000 mark, with the death toll near 300.

Meanwhile, a policeman at Garfa police station in Kolkata died yesterday, at a COVID-19 hospital in Kolkata. The health officials, however, said he was tested negative, raising questions on him being admitted to a COVID-19 hospital.

The 47-year-old constable had displayed COVID-19-like symptoms, which led to his colleagues staging a violent protest at the police station.

Though the West Bengal government has ramped up testing in the recent days, opening up of shops and businesses is posing a challenge for the administration.