Coronavirus Pune: Baner Gaon declared micro-containment zone

Pune: The situation remains to be grim in Pune as the cases of novel coronavirus are increasing with a rapid speed in the city. Pune, an epicentre of the contagion continues to report hundreds of new COVID-19 cases on a day to day basis. On Tuesday, the city witnessed 750 coronavirus cases while 25 people succumbed to the infection.

The number of coronavirus cases in the city are now being observed outside the containment zones. Aundh, Baner, Balewadi, Pashan which were once considered as a Green Zone now has reported several cases.

To curtail the spread of COVID-19, Pune Municipal Corporation has decided to declare Baner Gaon and its surroundings as micro-containment area. Baner had a very low number of patients till early July but now the cases are surging in the area. 

Regional ward officer Jaydeep Pawar talking to Sakal Times said, “The Baner Gaothan earlier had fewer coronavirus cases but the area is witnessing a surge in new cases. As per the rules, the area is declared micro-containment when the area witnesses more than three patients. The situation is under control and the area will be removed from the micro-containment tag once the active cases will be zero.”

The PMC is already reviewing the situation in the area. The administration is monitoring the area, as well as many people, especially the senior citizens are being tested on priority.

Though the area is declared as micro-containment zone, it is not being sealed entirely. The total area under containment remains more or less unaffected at 6.69 sq km. The micro-containment zones are on the rise in the city because the administration has further decreased the size of zones. At some areas, an existing containment zone has been divided into two or more micro-containment zones. All the corporators in the area have advised people through social media not to panic, take care and stay at home.

Meanwhile, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are under strict lockdown till July 23 with only hospitals, medical shops and dairies are allowed to operate. The relaxations will be given on the lockdown after the administration reviews the COVID-19 situation in the city after July 18.