KOLKATA: The cops and healthcare workers in certain pockets of the city are facing a new adversary in their fight against Covid-19 — ‘get-togethers’ and ‘house parties’ that are termed high-risk activities as they take place in an enclosed space and make social distancing difficult.
Stumped by the new-found form of recreation in the times of corona, the local administration have now been requesting residents’ welfare associations (RWA) in Rajarhat, New Town, VIP Road, New Alipore, Tollygunge and pockets of EM Bypass to keep an eye on such residents, along with taking a few other measures. In several western countries, such indoor programmes where people from different parts of the city coming under one roof has been termed as “super-spreader events”.
“Contact tracing of a few people who have tested positive has revealed that they may have attended a get-together or were part of a house party. Most of them said they would stay at home most of the time and step out only to either visit a friend or a relative or attend a get-together at somebody’s place that they felt was safe,” said a doctor in a private hospital off EM Bypass. “One doesn’t know if a guest is infected but asymptomatic. Or, they are yet to manifest the symptoms. In closed environments, there are chances of more people getting infected.’
With bars and night clubs shut and eateries only allowing takeaways to prevent the spread of the virus, people have not been able to meet friends and socialise. To beat the boredom, many of them are organizing high-teas or house parties during weekends to regain some of their pre-pandemic social life.
Medical experts say it borders on high-risk activity. “Restaurants, movie halls and clubs have been kept shut for the same reason so that people cannot come in close proximity of each other. Even in a house party, people from different neighbourhoods are assembling under one roof. They might dance near to each other or sit across the table while eating. This helps the virus to hop from one person to another,” said the doctor.
According to cops, they have received reports of several such get-togethers from different pockets of the city. “Standalone houses or those inside gated communities provide complete privacy. We are speaking to several RWAs, requesting them to sensitize their members and report to us if any activity like this takes place,” said an officer.
Medical experts feel it is better to shift the activity area to the terrace or a verandah for proper ventilation. It is also preferable to sit facing the same direction rather than sitting across each other. Maintaining social distancing outdoors is easier than it is inside an apartment with many guests. This is the reason places like multiplexes, nightclubs and bars have not been allowed to open.
There have been cases in other cities in the country where almost all guests attending a marriage ceremony have tested positive. In Kolkata, not more than 50 people can attend a marriage ceremony. Even religious shrines have been advised to only allow few people inside for prayers. Several places in the city have been turned into containment zones again due to the spike in cases.
“People who have elderly parents or other family members with co-morbidities may be putting them at risk too. It is fine to have a couple of friends over but even then one must make sure if they reside in a containment zone or a hotspot. They may bring the virus inside the house,” said another doctor.
Stumped by the new-found form of recreation in the times of corona, the local administration have now been requesting residents’ welfare associations (RWA) in Rajarhat, New Town, VIP Road, New Alipore, Tollygunge and pockets of EM Bypass to keep an eye on such residents, along with taking a few other measures. In several western countries, such indoor programmes where people from different parts of the city coming under one roof has been termed as “super-spreader events”.
“Contact tracing of a few people who have tested positive has revealed that they may have attended a get-together or were part of a house party. Most of them said they would stay at home most of the time and step out only to either visit a friend or a relative or attend a get-together at somebody’s place that they felt was safe,” said a doctor in a private hospital off EM Bypass. “One doesn’t know if a guest is infected but asymptomatic. Or, they are yet to manifest the symptoms. In closed environments, there are chances of more people getting infected.’
With bars and night clubs shut and eateries only allowing takeaways to prevent the spread of the virus, people have not been able to meet friends and socialise. To beat the boredom, many of them are organizing high-teas or house parties during weekends to regain some of their pre-pandemic social life.
Medical experts say it borders on high-risk activity. “Restaurants, movie halls and clubs have been kept shut for the same reason so that people cannot come in close proximity of each other. Even in a house party, people from different neighbourhoods are assembling under one roof. They might dance near to each other or sit across the table while eating. This helps the virus to hop from one person to another,” said the doctor.
According to cops, they have received reports of several such get-togethers from different pockets of the city. “Standalone houses or those inside gated communities provide complete privacy. We are speaking to several RWAs, requesting them to sensitize their members and report to us if any activity like this takes place,” said an officer.
Medical experts feel it is better to shift the activity area to the terrace or a verandah for proper ventilation. It is also preferable to sit facing the same direction rather than sitting across each other. Maintaining social distancing outdoors is easier than it is inside an apartment with many guests. This is the reason places like multiplexes, nightclubs and bars have not been allowed to open.
There have been cases in other cities in the country where almost all guests attending a marriage ceremony have tested positive. In Kolkata, not more than 50 people can attend a marriage ceremony. Even religious shrines have been advised to only allow few people inside for prayers. Several places in the city have been turned into containment zones again due to the spike in cases.
“People who have elderly parents or other family members with co-morbidities may be putting them at risk too. It is fine to have a couple of friends over but even then one must make sure if they reside in a containment zone or a hotspot. They may bring the virus inside the house,” said another doctor.
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