India fourth most affected by new coronavirus pandemic (File)
New Delhi:
With more than 5.5 lakh of COVID-19 cases and more than 22 lakh of isolated or quarantined people, the tightening of the containment strategy to stop the spread of the infectious virus will probably be at the center of “Unlock2”, the next confinement coronavirus phase.
This means that it is unlikely that there will be too much flexibility, apart from those already announced, in the guidelines restricting the movement of people and the resumption of economic activities.
The current lockout phase – “Unlock1” – took effect on June 1 and ends at midnight Tuesday.
In their conversations with the center, States experiencing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases since “Unlock1” opt either for an extension of the lock, or set up strict surveillance in containment zones.
“States that have seen a significant spike in cases are opting for tougher rules,” said a senior interior ministry official. The Home Office is the focal point for the coronavirus strategy and collects data on both positive and quarantined cases.
The Interior Ministry official also said that the center was particularly concerned about people who are currently isolated and who must be under strict surveillance to ensure that they do not meet quarantine.
According to ministry data, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra contributed more than 50% of the number of isolated people at home, followed by Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The center has already advised these states to intensify surveillance in containment areas.
The Interior Ministry said that UP alone 6,88,396 people were recovering at home; it is more than the 5.95 391 of Maharashtra. Just two weeks ago, Maharashtra had 611,502 cases and UP 5,72,665.
“More and more cases are coming to the UP because the tests have been increased,” said a senior official from the Interior Ministry.
Maharashtra has already extended the lockout until July 31.
With regard to the UP, cities like Agra, Meerut and those that make up the National Capital Region, including Noida, contribute to the maximum of the workload; it is both in terms of positive cases and quarantine numbers.
Gujarat is the third contributor in terms of quarantine, with the state government reporting that 2,338,131 people are isolated.
Chhattisgarh has 1 98 147 people in family isolation and Odisha 1 94 206.
The UP and Madhya Pradesh have announced door-to-door investigations; they are joining Goa, Delhi and Odisha to conduct or plan to conduct such an exercise.
Meanwhile, a 14-day lockout started Sunday evening in Asswa’s Guwahati and an estimated 36,000 people in Tamil Nadu are under quarantine, with state government fearing a new outbreak of infections.
The ruling AIADMK also asked Southern Railways to cancel seven special trains, until July 15, which are scheduled to run in the state on Monday.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh also announced a 15-day lockout extension. The northeastern state has 1,626 isolated people.
In Delhi, Interior Minister Amit Shah asked the authorities to implement a revised strategy after a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases.
The confinement zones in the city increased from 218 to 417 after a new mapping and around 2.45 lakh people were detected in a gigantic house-to-house investigation. Delhi has 19,313 people under house quarantine.
