As country readies for Lockdown 4.0 against COVID2019, all eyes on the announcements on relaxations and zoning by home and health ministries respectively
India reported 4987 fresh cases of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID2019) in the last 24 hours, including 120 deaths. This is the highest single day rise in the number of cases. The total cases in the country currently stands at 90927.
All eyes will be, throughout the day on Sunday, on a possible announcement on the way forward as the country readies for Lockdown 4.0. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will address another press conference on the fiscal measures in the offing to kickstart the economy. There have already been multiple indications that in the next leg, states would have much more flexibility in zoning decisions for containment of the disease and also in terms of relaxations to the lockdown. Delhi has been pushing for more but given the rising graph in the capital that may still be a problem area.
All eyes on a possible announcement on the way forward as the country readies for Lockdown 4.0. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will address another press conference on the fiscal measures
Cities have so far been the epicentres of the outbreak in the country; that is why the ministry of health has now issued detailed guidelines for containment in urban areas, especially in urban slums where the cramped living conditions make social distancing difficult; and lack of a committed public health workforce make contact tracing a tough task.
The guidance document on Preparedness and response to COVID-19 in Urban Settlements prepared by the Directorate General of Health Services says: “In most of the cities/towns the disease surveillance system is not as well organized as in the rural areas. This is more so pronounced in these urban settlements. Hence the surveillance system shall be strengthened for surveillance and contact tracing mechanism. This would include identification of the health workers in the health posts/dispensaries, ANMs, ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, municipal health staff, sanitation staff, community health volunteers and other volunteers (NSS/NYK/IRCS/NCC and NGOs) etc. The trained manpower available on www.covidwarriors.gov.in will be contacted for their readiness to deployment at short notice.”
