All 6 Metros, Other Major Cities Marked Red In Centre's COVID-19 List

[Kool_SRG]

Corona virus India: All six metros - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad - currently have a high number of cases.

New Delhi:

A list of 170 hotspot districts was released on Wednesday by the Centre, which includes all six metros and most large cities. The list marked 123 districts as "large outbreaks" -- which includes all nine districts of national capital Delhi. Mumbai, Kolkata, 9 districts of Bengaluru Urban, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur and Agra were among the areas marked hotspots also on the list. 

A "hotspot (red zone) classification" would be districts or cities contributing to more than 80 per cent of the cases in the country or the state. Places that show a high rate of infection -- doubling rate less than 4 days - will also be in this category.

All six metros - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad - currently have a high number of cases.  

Mumbai alone has 1,896 cases as of Wednesday -- more than half of the Maharashtra figure of 2,916. Delhi has a total of 1561 cases. Of these, 30 patients recovered and 30 died.  The Delhi government has marked 56 areas as containment zones, which means barring essential services, no one is allowed to get in or out of these areas.  

Of the 170 hotspots, 47 shows cluster outbreaks, the government said. Cluster outbreaks are ones where the virus spreads in clusters, over 15 cases are reported and the infection shows no sign of stopping.

Besides, the list also mentions districts where there have been cases, but the numbers were limited. These 207 districts have been marked as potential hotspots, the government has said, tasking the states with ensuring that the outbreak be contained in both red and the orange buffer zones.

For all the hotspots, the state governments have been tasked with ensuring that that the disease be contained. If no new outbreaks are reported within 28 days and all the existing patients recover, the area can be declared a green zone, the government has said.

For a concerted push against the virus in red zones, the government said there should be special teams to conduct door-to-door surveys and tests. The tests will not just be for COVID-19. Patients of influenza-related illness and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness), will also be tested, since such patients have often tested positive for coronavirus.

 

[Kool_SRG]

[Kool_SRG]

[Kool_SRG]

As India's coronavirus tally tops over 12,000, the Centre has divided districts based on the number of cases as part of its strategy to contain the pandemic in phase two of the lockdown. Based on this, the government has divided the states into three zones -- red, orange and green zones. As many as 170 districts of India's 720 districts have been marked 'red zones' or hotspots with major outbreaks, while 207 districts have been marked as non-hotspots.

While red zones comprise places with major outbreaks, orange zones will include places where new cases are emerging or showing a sign of decline. As per the Home Ministry, the identification of hotspots will be done on a weekly basis (every Monday) or earlier.

Strict containment measures will be implemented in hotspots, while non-hotspots districts will try to curb new cases. Besides, districts with no cases will keep a close watch on the situation, besides keeping dedicated COVID hospitals ready.

How will a red zone become a green zone?

Hotspots or areas with a large number of COVID-19 cases or clusters with a significant spread of the virus will be demarcated by the states. The authorities will implement strict measures in the red zones. All activities, barring essential services such as medical emergencies and law enforcement, will be stopped in such areas.

If no case is reported for 14 days, they will be earmarked as orange zones. Further, if no case is reported for 28 days, the districts will become green zones. So, if no new case is reported in these 170 districts in the next 28 days, they will become green zones.

How do authorities identify containment zones?

The rapid response teams in different districts identify containment zones based on the number of new and existing cases and contracts traced by them. The authorities will mark an additional 5-7km buffer zone around hotspots to avoid it from spreading to neighbouring districts.

What is the hotspot inclusion criteria?

• Highest caseload contributing to over 80% cases in India or
• Districts contributing to 80% cases for each state or
• Districts with a doubling rate in less than 4 days
• For green zones: No new confirmed cases for the last 28 days