A sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in Telangana has put its capital city on high alert. The number of new cases detected on Monday was the highest in one week, with 61 cases taking the total to 592.
Greater Hyderabad region has alone recorded 267 cases so far prompting authorities to take new measures. Three new deaths in the last couple of days also indicated an upward trend.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao held a review meeting with higher officials on Tuesday. It was decided to put in place a new strategy exclusively for Hyderabad and surrounding areas. The administration has identified 126 containment zones in the city based on the number of positive cases recorded there. The CM has ordered the officials to seal them and ensure that people are not allowed into these hotspots and those residing in these zones are not let out. It was also decided that these centres will have a nodal officer and also a police officer in-charge of monitoring the situation. Essentials will be delivered to those residing within these zones.
The state government has released a set of guidelines and protocols for officials involved in manning and monitoring the containment zones. One of them is to ensure that the perimeter of the containment zone is sealed off with permanent barricades of at least 8 ft height. There will be only one exit and entry point to the containment zone monitored by the police and no movement even on footpaths will be allowed inside the zone. For supply of provisions, a vehicle will be dedicated to each zone. Apart from the disinfectant operations taking place twice a day inside the zone, the officials will also ensure that waste from these hotspots is not mixed with the general waste from other localities. A fever survey will also be taken up daily.
The Greater Hyderabad region with 17 circles under GHMC will now be considered as 17 units and each unit will have a special medical officer, municipal officer, police officer and a revenue officer to prevent the spread with coordinated efforts.
In view of the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, the chief minister appealed to the people to not venture out.