Coronavirus Pune: Strict lockdown for eight days in Wadgaon Budruk

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has declared Wadgaon Budruk area on Sinhagad Road as a containment zone for a week starting from July 4. Stringent lockdown will be implemented in this area during this period with only shops related to essential services allowed to remain open. The civic administration has taken this decision to bring down the number of cases in Sinhagad road area which has seen a sharp rise in COVID-patients.

The coronavirus outbreak started in the city in March with the first case reported from Wadgaon Dhayari area of Prabhag 33 under the Sinhagad Road Ward jurisdiction of PMC. After this case, the number of cases was relatively less in this ward office jurisdiction. It saw a spike recently when relaxations were given in the lockdown by the state government and PMC.

Especially after May 1, the number of cases have shot up which has been a cause of concern for civic officials. On this background, the PMC officials visited the Wadgaon Budruk area and decided to seal the entire area by declaring it as a containment zone.

According to the new rules framed by the PMC, if five or more patients are found in a building or locality which is in non-containment zones, then that area will be declared as a containment zone. Also, the number of COVID-positive patients found in the non-containment zones has increased and hence PMC is reviewing the containment zone list every week.

Sambhaji Khot, Additional Commissioner, PMC said, "Only essential services like milk, grocery, ration and medical shops will be allowed to remain open in the time slot of 7 am to 1 pm. All commercial standalone shops will be shut during these eight days. Street vendors have also been banned. Citizens should stay at home and cooperate with the administration. Do not step out unless for any essential reason. Action will be taken under the Epidemic Management Act against anyone found violating the rules.