Bengal grapples with 8 confirmed COVID cases; Six-month-old included

In a surprising turn of events, Bengal, which declared itself free of COVID-19 just a day earlier according to the state health department, has witnessed a resurgence with eight confirmed cases. This sudden spike raises concerns about the accuracy of the initial claim and the potential challenges in containing the virus.

Earlier on Friday, an official from the health department disclosed that two individuals from Kolkata and a six-month-old child recently returned from Bihar have tested positive for the virus.

The infant has been admitted to Kolkata Medical College Hospital, while the two adults are undergoing treatment in separate private hospitals. All three patients' samples have been sent to the Institute of Virology in Kalyani for testing to determine if they are infected with the new variant, JN.1.

However, recent reports include cases from diverse locations, notably from Middleton Row and Bhawanipur. Two infected individuals are currently receiving treatment at Bellevue, with one patient each hailing from these respective localities. 

In response to the evolving situation, authorities are closely monitoring the cases. Additionally, the possibility of the new COVID-19 variant is being investigated through genome sequencing to better understand the nature of the infections.