Area-focussed plan to control spread in COVID clusters

“New area-wise plan has been implemented in 10 localities in Royapuram zone. Narrower streets have been identified and steps were taken to shift vulnerable people to community halls. Streets and houses were disinfected. This has helped control the spread,” said J Radhakrishnan, Special Officer for COVID-19 control in Chennai.

He added that plans have also been devised for Kodambakkam and Valasaravakkam zones. As on Friday, 971 cases and 895 cases have been reported in Royapuram and Kodambakkam zones respectively.

Pointing out that not a single case has been reported for last eight days from VR Pillai Street in Triplicane where 88 cases were reported, he said the spread has been controlled due to the area-based plan. “This is due to the cooperation provided by the residents. If residents elsewhere cooperate by wearing masks and washing hands properly, we can control the virus,” he said.

The civic body had already identified 2,000 vulnerable slum areas and Slum Clearance Board areas that are densely populated, where the residents are being sensitised on the importance of wearing masks.

Corporation Commissioner G Prakash assured relaxation in containment areas, stating that if one or two cases only reported from a particular street, only the houses of the infected persons would be sealed from now. But if more than five cases are reported from a street, the entire street would be sealed. Also, the containment period has also been reduced to 14 days from 28 days, he added.

“As many as 120 containment areas have completed 14-day restriction without any new cases. Restrictions in those areas will be relaxed from Friday,” he said.

The Commissioner added that the distribution of free re-usable masks would be completed in 15 days. The civic body has ordered 50 lakh masks to distribute among the residents living in vulnerable areas.