With the spread of coronavirus infections, one thing that is also rising is the use of the jargons around the COVID-19 related news. One such term is “containment zone”.
Udaipur Administration recently declared the entire city area of Udaipur as a containment zone after the sudden blast of corona cases.
Here’s a quick look at what the term stands for and how are such zones determined in tackling the coronavirus spread.
What is a containment zone?
A COVID-19 containment zone refers to a specific geographical area where positive cases of coronavirus are found.
According to the Ministry of Health, every confirmed COVID-19 case is considered as an epicentre (the residence of the positive case or the place where he was putting up when he was found positive) and micro-plan activities will need to be done.
Containment zones are created to map the local transmission of the disease and prevent the contagion from spreading. They are identified by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) based on the extent of cases listed and mapped by them.
How is a containment zone determined?
Containment zones are earmarked by the states, UTs and district administration.
The perimeters of the containment zone are decided based on the number of positive cases in the area, contact tracing history and population density.
The RRT demarcates the area of 3-kilometre radius around the epicentre if contact listing and mapping take more than 24 hours. This area of 3 km radius is the containment zone.
If required, based on the mapping of contacts and cases, the containment zone is refined.
Guidelines for Containment Zones as per Ministry of Home Affairs (https://www.mha.gov.in)
https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/MHA%20order%20dt%2015.04.2020%2C%20with%20Revised%20Consolidated%20Guidelines_compressed%20%283%29.pdf
Entry and exit of people are severely restricted in this zone except for maintaining essential services (medical emergencies, law and order related duties).
The administration gives a contract to vegetable vendors, milk vendors and some grocery stores for distributing these essentials. These are delivered by the vendors to people the people directly to their home.
Medical screening (fever survey) is conducted and symptomatic persons are transferred to hospitals.
Disinfectant spraying (sanitizing) is to cover the entire area.
The protocol for tracing and quarantining each new positive case to family and primary contacts will be followed.