Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is currently analysing the COVID-19 data collected from the containment and non-containment areas. Based on the data collected, it will declare areas to be de-contained within the containment zones, as well as include new areas as containment zones in the next week, for the fourth phase of the nationwide lockdown.

Pune Smart City Development Corporation (PSCDCL) has also created a dashboard at its common centre on Sinhagad Road. The corporation collects information from various private and government hospitals, quarantine centres, flu clinics and PMC surveys regarding the Covid-19 epidemic.

The PMC collects data on Covid-19 patients from government, civic and private hospitals in the city daily.

Smart City is not only engaged in mapping Covid-19 patients. But they are also tracing patients and based on which, they are releasing Covid-19 update maps pin-pointing active patients. They have given colour codes to identify areas such as green, orange and red zones.

On May 5, PMC spotted 69 micro-zones within the containment areas and put stringent restrictions on the movement of 70,000 families of these areas. PMC has also distributed ration kits, masks so that people do not move out of their homes to buy essentials. PMC has completely shut down essential commodity shops in these areas to restrict movements and ensure social distancing in these areas.

Now, PMC and Smart City have analysed the data collected during the lockdown. It will give a clear picture stating in which areas active positive patients are increasing and decreasing. On that basis, PMC will take decision omitting or adding areas as containment and non-containment zone.

Speaking to Sakal Times, Shekhar Gaikwad said, "Based on active patients and recovery rate of patients as well as government order on easing off lockdown restrictions on 17 May, we will decide on the status of containment zones in the city."

Bhavani Peth, Kasba-Vishrambaugh, Yerawada-Kalas-Dhanori, Dhole Patil Road, Shivajinagar-Ghole Patil road are the hotspot ward offices, of the 15 ward offices under the PMC. The total area under these ward offices is 10 sq km. These are micro-containment zones. Most of these areas consist of congested community pockets. PMC has marked these hotspots based on the number of positive Covid-19 patients in these areas.

The municipal commissioner handed over charge of these containment areas to four IAS officers - Saurabh Rao, Anil Kawade, Sachindra Pratap Singh and Kaustubh Divegavkar to handle the situation and take necessary steps to control Covid-19 in six ward offices. PMC made micro-planning and declared 69 hotspots under the containment areas.