Darjeeling : After Delta variant of Covid was reported in Sikkim on Monday, the Darjeeling and Kalimpong district administrations have set up centres along the borders to screen people entering West Bengal from Sikkim. An order was issued by the Darjeeling district magistrate on Tuesday which states that all passengers and drivers including helpers entering West Bengal from Sikkim need to produce Covid negative reports or Covid double vaccination documents.

 

Similar stipulations are already in place by the Sikkim government for persons coming from outside the State and wanting to enter Sikkim. The Delta variant of Covid-19 in Sikkim was announced on Monday by Health minister Dr. M.K. Sharma following testing of samples sent from Sikkim to a Kalyani lab. The Delta variant, considered to be highly transmissible, was attributed to the consistent high coronavirus positivity rate in Sikkim.

 

On Wednesday, screening checkposts were seen in places like Rangpo and Melli along the Sikkim-Kalimpong border. The posts were manned by West Bengal Health department and local police. As per the order from the Darjeeling district magistrate, to contain the spread of Covid-19, all inbound passengers from Sikkim have to carry certificate/proof of full vaccination or RT-PCR negative report (conducted within 72 hours) or RAT negative report (conducted within 48 hours) before entering Darjeeling district. The order also stated that it will take effect from July 22.