As many as 38 people tested Covid-19 positive and over 50 were quarantined in the Howrah district, a designated red zone in West Bengal, state Health Department sources said.
According to sources, the new cases were reported from the Narasingha Dutta Road area in central Howrah, where the community spread is suspected.
"All 38 Covid-19 patients have been admitted to Covid hospitals in the district. They are undergoing treatment at Sanjibani Hospital in Phuleswar, ILS Hospital and Satyabala ID Hospital," said Howrah Chief Medical Officer of Health Bhabani Das.
Das said around 50 other residents of the area had been sent to the district quarantine centres.
These people stayed in a small area and worked as sweepers with the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) in six wards ward number 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 41.
According to sources, a few of them, suffering from cough and fever, had been sent to the district quarantine centre in the last week of April. Suddenly, several people in the area were detected with similar symptoms. Their samples were collected and sent to the School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. All were tested coronavirus positive.
The area has been converted into a containment zone. Over 1,600 sweepers stayed in that area, stretching around 1 km area. Many of them had also been home quarantined after the outbreak, sources said.
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had declared districts, like Howrah, Kolkata, North 24-Parganas and East Midnapore, as red zones. Howrah also featured in the red zone list, released by the Centre.
( With inputs from IANS )