West Bengal has recorded 9,073 fresh cases of COVID-19 over the last 24 hours on January 4, marking a huge jump from 6,078 cases on January 3.
The state reported 16 more deaths due to COVID-19 related complications.
Kolkata drove the spike in new cases on January 4, accounting for 4,759 cases and followed by North 24 Parganas at 1,391. In Howrah, the number of new cases increased to 698 and in Hooghly it was 400.
The fresh cases drove the state’s overall tally of infections to 16,64,301.
Amid spurt in COVID-19 cases, the West Bengal government on January 4 said incoming domestic flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata will be allowed thrice a week on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with effect from January 5.
In a statement, additional chief secretary BP Gopalika said: “Restrictions are absolutely essential for containment of COVID cases in the state.”
“The same will be reviewed again shortly depending upon the COVID situation in the state,” he added.
A report said that over 100 staff, including many medics of the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, have been affected by the viral infection.
Besides, some 86 Kolkata Police personnel have contracted the disease.
