3.5L high risk persons, over 10k returnees in Nagpur rural: Survey

Nagpur: Alarmed over increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Nagpur rural, district collector Ravindra Thakre had ordered a health survey. It has revealed that about 3.5 lakh persons suffer from diseases like diabetes, tuberculosis etc. Further about 10,600 persons have returned home from other districts.
A revenue official said all the 10,600 persons are being screened for novel coronavirus (Covid-19) infection. “Our teams are going to their houses and screening them. They are potential carriers. Special attention is being paid to them,” he added.
Initially, there were negligible cases in Nagpur rural. However, the numbers started increasing after people started returning home from Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Jalgaon etc. Of the 46 positive cases in Nagpur rural, 35 had returned from outside. Nine are from Special Reserve Police Force (SRPF), who were on duty in Satranjipura. Two patients of Kondhali were living in Shanti Nagar. One person from Mominpura had gone to Kharbi.
The official further said that people suffering from diabetes and tuberculosis have a greater risk of developing complications if they contracted coronavirus. “This is the reason for surveying such persons. We have noted down the name, his or her address and the ailment he or she suffers from. The district administration is regularly enquiring about their health,” he added.
He further said special attention is also being paid to containment areas — Kanhan, Kondhali, Butibori, Kalmeshwar, Kamptee, Koradi, Hingna, Narkhed and Saoner. “We are screening every person living in containment zones so that the disease does not spread further,” the official added.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is also conducting a door-to-door survey for identifying coronavirus patients and those potentially at risk from complications. It is covering around 6 lakh houses and a population of over 30 lakh.
NMC teams are visiting each house and enquiring about the health of residents. In all 288 teams have been formed which will enquire whether any person has returned from abroad in the last few days. “If there are such cases, names and addresses of persons whom they came in contact with are being noted,” said sources.
The NMC personnel are also teaching basic precautions to Nagpurians like washing hands frequently, wearing masks, not touching face etc so as to keep the Covid at bay.