Against the backdrop of the steady rise in number of COVID-19 cases in Nagpur Division, Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, has asked the Collectors of all six districts including Nagpur to triple the daily testing of samples and act tough on violators of protocols/guidelines. Dr Sanjeev Kumar issued the guidelines in this regard to Collectors of Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli districts on Thursday. “Initiate action under Disaster Management Act against persons not following the guidelines,” he stated. As per the guidelines, wearing face-mask is mandatory.

 

The violation of this norm may invite penal action. Further, social distancing has to be followed and sanitiser should be used. In wedding ceremonies, the maximum number of attendees has been capped to 50. The wedding hall/lawn owners will have to face cancellation of licence and action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as Disaster Management Act (DMA) provisions in case of violation. the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as Disaster Management Act (DMA) provisions in case of violation.

 

The maximum attendance at funerals has been capped to 20. Those attending the funeral will be required to wear face-masks, use sanitiser, maintain physical distancing. Else, action under IPC and DMA will be taken against violators. Curbs have been imposed on social, cultural, political, sports, and other such gatherings. If the COVID-19 patients in home quarantine/isolation are found moving out of their homes and roaming around, the District Collector will take action against them under DMA provisions. The number of tests conducted daily should be tripled to enable wider screening and contact tracing should involve screening of at least 20 contacts per patient, Dr Sanjeev Kumar stated. The test of potential ‘super spreaders’ like milkman, vendor, shop-keeper, vehicle drivers, distributor etc should be conducted. Eating joints/restaurants have been allowed to resume operations with 50 per cent seating capacity. The joints/restaurants flouting the norm will face penal action.

 

The Divisional Commissioner also asked the Collectors to start COVID Care Centre for patients not having home isolation arrangement. Also, he asked them to ensure that there was no movement in and out of the containment zone. The private doctors in entire Nagpur Division have been asked to report the patients having ‘influenza like illnesses’ to the nearest primary healthcare centre or Government Medical College/hospital control room. Also, the RTPCR and rapid antigen test of such patients should be conducted forthwith. Private hospitals having CT-Scan facility have been asked to report patients with COVID-19 like symptoms to the Government hospital/control room. Else, such hospitals will face action. The crowded public places like bus-stations, railway stations, toilets etc should be sanitised regularly, added the Divisional Commissioner.