Covid-19 in Puducherry: 32 clusters to be under lockdown

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government on Thursday announced its decision to impose localised lockdown on 32 hamlets which have a higher doubling rate of Covid-19 positive cases. The lockdown will be in force from August 31 to September 6.
In an order, Puducherry district collector cum magistrate T Arun said the administration had taken the decision after analysing the total number of positive cases, doubling rate, fatality rate, positivity rate, vulnerability mapping and density of population of the hamlets.
The identified areas have been declared as the local lockdown zones for seven days beginning on August 31. The doubling rate of the Covid-19 positive cases of the hamlets range from seven days (Gangaiamman Koil Street and Ulaivaikal) to 30 days (Thattanchavady) and the positivity rate of the infection ranges from 15% (Senthamarai Nagar) to 60% (Gundupalayam and Gangaiamman Koil Street).
"All shops, establishments, industrial units and private offices shall be closed. Vegetable and grocery shops shall be opened from 6am to noon to cater to the daily needs of the public in the cluster zone. There shall be no unchecked outward movement of population from the local lockdown zones except for maintaining essential services (including medical emergencies) and government business continuity," said Arun.
No transportation is allowed into the local lockdown zones except for essential permitted activities. Government offices, hospitals, clinics, pharmacy and milk booths are exempted from the restrictions. People from outside would not be allowed into lockdown zones, said the collector.
Arun said the primary health centres in the hamlets concerned must strengthen surveillance measures and set up fever clinic. Incident commander and superintendent of police in the hamlets concerned will decide on the perimeter of the zone after considering the number and size of the clusters, geographical characteristics of the area and the presence of basic infrastructure and essential services. Arun directed the public works department to ensure necessary barricading of the hamlets before July 31.
"All vehicular movement, movement of public transport and personnel movement will be stopped. All roads including rural roads connecting the zone will be guarded by police. In case of prominent roads passing through the said zone will be allowed for vehicular movements," said the magistrate.
The 32 hamlets are: Shanmugapuram (total Covid positive cases 44, doubling rate 12, positivity rate 50%), Thattanchavady (22, 30, 45%), Gundupalayam (12, 22, 60%), Thilaspet (13, 15, 40%), Thendral Nagar (35, 12, 40%), Iyyapan Nagar (13, 10, 30%), Shakthi Nagar (35, 15, 20%), Anitha Nagar (86, 8, 30%), Ayyanar Koil Street, OK Palayam (36, 12, 28%), Thiyagamudhaliyar Nagar (22, 12, 32%), Mullai Nagar (12, 15, 30%), Periyar Nagar (52, 10, 35%), Ganagiamman Koil Street (14, 7, 60%), Kurinji Nagar 35, 10, 25%), Maduvupet (42, 10 50%), Pettuchettipet (38, 13, 40%), from Thillai Nagar to Vasantham Nagar (52, 10, 40%), Pudhunagar-Kannuvapet Road Junction (36, 13, 40%), R K Nagar (27, 11, 25%), Pitchaveerampet Vaikal Street 1, 2, 3 and 4 (20, 12, 30%), J Nagar (24, 14, 25%), Rainbow Nagar (77, 10, 40%), Kumaragurupallam (38, 18, 30%), Govindasalai (91, 11, 25%), Senthamarai Nagar (22, 12, 30%), Solai Nagar (31, 16, 15%), Vaithikuppam (24, 13, 20%), Muthialpet urban -Muthiya Mudhaliyar Street, Saint Roszario Street and Kattamanikuppam Street (62, 14, 25%), Ulavaikal (15, 7, 50%), Dharmapuri Street and Perumal Koil Street (24, 11, 30%), Porayurpet-Pudhunagar (25, 12, 25%) and Pangurpet (12, 14, 35%).