FIGHTBACK: Telangana opts for micro containment zones to counter Covid-19 surge

<p>
<strong>In the thick of battle to counter the second Corona surge, Telangana has stepped up setting up micro containment zones, raising them to 495 compared to 363 a couple days ago.</strong></p>
<p>
<strong>Micro Containment Zones</strong></p>
<p>
According to the officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) apartments, colonies, gated communities with clusters are categorized as micro containment zones but are not barricaded unlike last year.</p>
<p>
Speaking to the media, Sreenivas Reddy, GHMC Zonal Commissioner for Secunderabad said: “As a protocol, there are no barricades or posters like last year. Positive patients have to stay in their homes. Our role is limited to spraying sodium hypochlorite solution and ensuring sanitation in the locality.” He added that though Secunderabad had 35 odd micro containment zones, the number keeps changing.</p>
<p>
The same strategy of containment is being followed in the districts too. While the health department staff ensures isolation and monitoring of the patients in clusters, the gram panchayat assumes the responsibility for sanitation.</p>
<p>
In many districts, such micro containment zones are most of the time family households with 8 or 10 members. There has been a remarkable rise in Covid-19 cases in villages bordering Maharashtra.</p>
<p>
<strong>Requirement for more restrictions</strong></p>
<p>
With a view to check the spread of Covid-19 virus, Telangana has imposed a night curfew for 10 days which was commended from April 20.</p>
<p>
Further, the Director of Public Health has set up nearly 21 checkpoints in the five districts bordering Karnataka and Maharashtra. “At this point, we can assume that the virus is everywhere. As part of border surveillance, we are doing health screening and either turning away COVID positive cases or sending them to institutional quarantine,” observed Prof. Subodh Kandamuthan, Director of the Centre for Health Care Management at Administrative Staff College of India.</p>
<p>
2<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Representational__image_of_Puducherry_lockdown_twitter@Kumar1986Sandy.jpg" style="width: 683px; height: 512px;" /></p>
<p>
<em>Representational image. Puducherry lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic (Pic: Courtesy Twitter/@Kumar1986Sandy)</em></p>
<p>
There is a growing view in the State that citizens need to exercise self-discipline and that NGOs and the local community should ensure individual responsibility to allow the health department to take care of ICU beds, oxygen and medical supplies, and vaccination, etc.</p>
<p>
Making things worse for the State was the fact that it has run out of vaccines. In fact on April 18 not a single dose was administered.</p>
<p>
Addressing the media yesterday, the State’s Health Minister Eatala Rajender urged the Centre to increase vaccine production and not send Telangana only a limited number. Till last night  52,726 active Covid-19 cases had been reported with 3,24,840 patients discharged so far.</p>
<p>
<strong>PUDUCHERRY</strong></p>
<p>
In view of the increase in the Covid-19 cases in the Union Territory, the Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan has announced a complete lockdown effective from today,  April 23 night till April 26 morning.</p>
<p>
This is in addition to the night curfew which has been there in the region since Tuesday.</p>
<p>
The food courts, restaurants and tea shops have been allowed to operate till 8 p.m. allowing for only 50 per cent capacity while takeaway is being permitted till 10 p.m.</p>
<p>
Further, all shops and other establishments will be allowed to operate till 2 pm only.</p>
<p>
These restrictions are to stay till the situation regarding the spread of Covid-19 pandemic is brought under control.</p>
<p>
Identifying 20 areas as containment zones, these have been categorised as red, orange and yellow as per the guidelines of the All India Medical Council based on the number of Covid-19 cases, and are being constantly monitored.</p>
<p>
The Lt. Governor appealed to all to wear masks and follow safety precautions for the benefit of self and others. He also said stringent action will be taken against those violating Covid-19 guidelines.</p>
<p>
Additionally, masks and sanitisers are being sold at subsidised prices at cooperative milk parlours to help the needy.</p>