Virus levels to decide colours for city areas

Following the classification of districts into red, orange and green based on the number of COVID-19 positive cases, the State government and the Greater Chennai Corporation are mulling to make a similar classification for city zones and wards.

According to a Corporation source, the worst affected zones like Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Tondiarpet are likely to be classified as red zones as a large number of positive cases have been reported from these north Chennai zones. Zones like Manali and Ambattur could be classified as green zones as not a single case was reported from these extended zones.

As on April 14, as many as 59 and 29 cases were reported from Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones. The government had already classified the entire Chennai as red zone after the city reported as many as 205 positive cases.

“Even as the city is a red zone, several wards and some zones are free from COVID-19 spread. If the Royapuram zone is classified as a red zone, wards in the zone where COVID19 spread is contained will likely be classified as green wards. Wards with higher number cases will be red wards, even if they are located in orange zones,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the Corporation had demarcated around 90 containment areas across the city and imposed severe restrictions in these areas. Localities up to five-kilometre radius from the residence of infected

persons have been classified as containment areas. Of over 100 neighbourhoods in the Royapuram zone, only 27 have been declared as containment areas.

Also, the source added that the lockdown restrictions in the red zones and red wards would be implemented strictly. However, the restrictions and other protocols to be followed in colour classified zones and wards would be released by the government, while releasing the classification list. Prevention measures would also be intensified in the red wards. 

The civic body had already uploaded the containment zones to the ‘GCC Corona Monitoring’ mobile application so that outsiders could be prevented from entering the containment zones. Virus levels to decide colours for city areas Corpn to use traffic light pattern — red, yellow & green — as per intensity; 90 labelled containment spots 

The sample collection kiosks set up by the city Corporation has started serving the purpose as the civic body had identified some COVID-19 positive cases among those who had given samples there.

As on Monday night, the civic body had taken samples from as many as 2,545 persons at 25 sample collection kiosks. On Monday alone, the civic body took 1,237 samples. While nearly half of the samples collected are in the laboratories, the civic body had obtained results of an undisclosed number of samples.

Of the obtained test results, a total of six positive cases were identified from the samples taken at the kiosks and three cases are in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zone, a Chennai Corporation data said. Two cases were identified in Kodambakkam zone and one case was identified in Tondiarpet zone.

The civic body has been setting up the sample collection kiosks in community halls, indoor stadiums and others, and the kiosks started functioning on Saturday.

According to a Corporation health official, the kiosks have been set up to collect samples from those in the neighbourhood of those affected. “We took samples from the family members first. After that, we collected samples from the tenants of the buildings. Kiosks are for testing persons in the containment area,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash said the civic body intends to collect around 40,000 samples and opined that the result would help it predict the trend of the disease.

The city Corporation, on Wednesday, issued orders to impose a penalty of Rs 100 from those who venture out of homes without wearing masks. “The Greater Chennai Corporation, under Section 2 of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, directs that all public under its jurisdiction shall use the face mask compulsorily when stepping out of their homes for permitted work and needs,” a Corporation statement said. It also warned the violators of seizure of vehicles and suspension of driving licence for six months. Pedestrians without masks will have to pay a fine of Rs 100 per day. The punishments will be imposed by the police authorities. “As a preventive measure, the Greater Chennai Corporation intends to strictly enforce the usage of mask by the public to avoid the community spread of virus,” the statement said.