Bhilwara moves from ruthless to micro containment

JAIPUR: From the ruthless 3km containment zones to micro containment in streets, Bhilwara in Rajasthan has changed its strategy to check the spread of Covid-19.
The textile town is conducting tests on twice even on suspects — once immediately on suspicion and the second five days later, which other districts are hardly doing. Despite over 150 migrants testing positive for Covid-19, Bhilwara managed prevent the situation turn worse like in Bharatpur, Dholpur and Pali.

As of now, the textile town has 245 positive cases and is currently conducting random sampling to assess community spread of the virus. “Though the size of containment zones has become small, we are still implementing our ruthless containment model to contain the spread of virus,” said Rajendra Bhatt, district collector, Bhilwara.
Intense screening, contact tracing and aggressive testing in the textile town have prevented the situation from turning worse.
However, the situation has changed a lot in Bhilwara. The kind of ruthless containment, which remained implemented for 55 days in the city in April and May, has vanished with the state government allowing relaxation in movement for encouraging economic activities.
The textile town had remained under Section 144 with city borders sealed. Check posts were set up at all entry/exit points and buffer zones were turned into no movement zone in the city. The situation has changed now. “The people in Bhilwara remained under curfew for 55 days. They have played their part. If more persons are tested positive for Covid-19 by their carelessness, the efforts of others who remained indoors will go in vain. Around 95% are following the norms of social distancing, wearing face marks and taking precautions, but because of some people, the efforts of the administration will go waste,” said Bhatt.
However, he said the ruthless containment strategy is being maintained and serious action is being taken against those violating the norms. An FIR has been registered against a person who solemnised a marriage attended by over 50 guests, which is against the norms of lockdown. Among those who attended the marriage, one person died of Covid-19 and 15 others tested positive. The district administration sent 58 others to institutional quarantine. Taking futher action against the family, the district administration directed the tehsildar to collect money spent on them, which amounts to Rs 6.26 lakh for their lodging, food, transportation and testing.
Initially, in April and May, Bhilwara district had only one ruthless containment zone. “That was spread in the 3km area of the affected part of the city. But now we have 73 micro containment zones. Things have changed, but our aggressive testing, screening and contact tracing hasn’t, which is why we have succeeded in containing the spread of the virus despite increase in cases due to migrants,” said Dr Suresh Chaudhary, epidemiologist, Bhilwara.