Marriage halls/lawns to be sealed if size of gathering for functions exceeds number prescribed by Govt 

 

Against the backdrop of rising number of cases of COVID-19 in the city, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to conduct the test of vendors, hawkers, delivery boys and such sections that come in contact with multiple number of people daily. Their RTPCR test will be conducted at their work place through mobile testing centre. The persons to be tested include vegetable vendors, delivery boys, courier service employees, milkmen, hawkers; employees in grocery/kirana stores, hair salons, laundries, etc.

 

Further, to break the chain of COVID-19 spread, the administration will resume action at its end. Already, nine areas of the city have been identified as emerging hotspots of infection. These include Khamla, Swawalambi Naar, Jaitala, Ayodhya Nagar, New Bidipeth, Wathoda, Dighori, Jaripatka, and Jafar Nagar. Dayashankar Tiwari, Mayor, called a meeting at NMC on Saturday to discuss COVID-19 situation in the city and asked the administration to initiate measures to contain the spread of infection. He and Radhakrishnan B, Municipal Commissioner, issued several directions to officials of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital, Government Medical College and Hospital, NMC, Health Department officers. Tiwari asked the civic administration to pass on the information about COVID-19 cases in respective areas to corporators. In such areas, contract tracing should be done through rapid response team. As per the protocol, 20 persons who had come in contact with the patient detected in an area should be tested. For the purpose, mobile testing van should be sent to such areas.

 

Also, to create awareness about precautions to be taken, NMC administration should seek co-operation of social and voluntary organisations, Ganeshotsav and Durgotsav mandals, etc, Tiwari said. He appealed to the people to take precautions to curb the spread of the infection. The people must use face-masks and sanitisers while attending functions including wedding ceremonies. The arrangement of sanitiser should be made outside wedding halls. The shop-keepers also must ensure that there are not more than five persons at a time in their shops. Radhakrishna B asked the Assistant Commissioners of respective zones to seal the flat schemes/residential area if the residents resist or delay COVID-19 test after detection of fresh case there. He also directed to seal the wedding halls, lawns etc if gathering of persons in functions exceeded the number prescribed by the Government.

 

Especially, these halls/lawns will be under watch on February 16, the auspicious occasion of ‘Basant Panchami’. The Municipal Commissioner asked NMC officials to visit schools and hostels to inspect if the guidelines were being folllowed properly. The students living in hostels will have to get themselves tested for COVID-19. The private and Government hospitals in the city have been asked to conduct tests of family members and contacts of COVID-19 patients admitted there. The information will be taken from private pathology laboratories too to ensure tracing of the persons who had come in contact with COVID-19 patients. Virendra Kukreja, Chairman of Health Committee, suggested that NMC teams should conduct surprise inspection visits to crowded places and areas where number of COVID-19 patients was more. In case of violation of norms, action should be taken against violators, he added.