Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while addressing a press conference in Kolkata on Monday said that the West Bengal government will form a global advisory committee to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic. The panel of Coronavirus or COVID-19 response policy will incorporate the assistance of Nobel laureate Dr. Abhijit Banerjee.

CM Banerjee said, “Due to lockdown, there’s no revenue. We don’t know how long we’ve to stay like this. We’ve to plan for the future. Our government will form a Global Advisory Committee for the COVID-19 response policy in the state. Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee will be a part of the committee,”.

On Friday, the Centre approved the release of Rs 11,092 crore to states under the State Disaster Risk Management Fund following an assurance from prime minister Narendra Modi to augment state resources needed to fund coronavirus containment efforts.

A release from the home ministry described the funds as “advance release” of the Centre’s share of the first installment of SDRMF for 2020-21.

The States have been authorized to use SDRFM funds for testing and treatment costs among other COVID-19 containment requirements.

Till today 12 pm, positive active cases in West Bengal are 61 and 55 cases of these are from 7 families among which 99 percent of the cases have an international connection.

Banerjee said, "The state has so far witnessed 3 deaths and 13 people have been discharged, adding that in the Kalimpong, one person had died, while 4 have been tested negative out of total 11 cases.

Although the West Bengal government has started identifying zones shortly after the ICMR gave its sanction to allow rapid testing for areas reporting clusters, large migration gathering, and hotspots.

"As soon the areas are identified, we will decide on the next step to start rapid testing," a state health government official said, adding that there are at least 30 NABL accredited laboratories in Kolkata that have the facility for rapid testing.

As per the latest Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) advisory, rapid antibody testing would be undertaken in all areas reporting clusters of COVID-19 positive cases.