Surat: Amid fear of another spike in Covid-19 cases, the containment zones to control the spread of virus are back.
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) declared 29 new containment areas, taking the total number of such zones to 224.
Even as health officials claimed that the daily increase in the number of positive cases in the city were not alarming, they are not taking chances looking at the worsening Covid situation in neighbouring Maharashtra.
SMC has also relaxed the criteria for declaring containment areas. “Earlier, we used to declare a containment zone only when two or more cases were found. But now, we even if one case is found, the area will have restrictions. We have intensified the contact tracing as well,” A K Naik, deputy municipal commissioner, health.
On Monday, SMC officials held a meeting with various bodies of doctors and city hospitals including Indian Medical Association (IMA) and instructed them to share details of suspected patients with the health department on priority. They were also asked to make preparations for the next stage of vaccination drive for those above 50 years age and co-morbid patients. In the next phase, around 4.65 lakh patients will be vaccinated.
Surat city is registering an increase of 10 cases daily, mainly attributed to increasing infection in neighbouring Maharashtra and public gathering events organised in the city in past few days. People gathered in huge groups in marriage functions, political and social events.
“The rise in the number of cases per day is not big, but we are taking all preventive actions.,” he added.
Currently, 5,500 health department staff of SMC are working for prevention of Covid19.
In all, 62 people are taking treatment as indoor patients in Covid hospitals of whom 17 are SMC-run SMIMER Hospital and 12 in New Civil Hospital. No death due to Covid was reported on Monday.
SMC has intensified checking at city entry points. In the three days, SMC collected a fine of Rs 4.24 lakh from individuals for not wearing a face mask and violating social distancing norms.
On Tuesday, SMC will hold a meeting with representatives of the textile industry to discuss various measures to be taken to tackle the next possible wave of Covid19 in the industry and market places.