New Delhi: India is all set to utilise the 19 days of extended lockdown and convert its COVID-19 red zones (hotspots) to green zones (COVID-19 free area).
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has chalked out a detailed roadmap for the entire operations and accordingly Health Secretary Preeti Sudan has shared her strategy with States and Union Territories (UTs) early Wednesday.
"As you are aware Government of India has extended the national level lockdown till 3rd May to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. This period should be utilised effectively and there should be a concerted effort for implementing containment measures in a focused manner," said Sudan in a letter sent to chief secretaries of States and UTs.
As many as 170 districts across India have been put as hotspots (red zone). And these include 123 districts with large outbreaks of COVID-19 pandemic and 47 districts with cluster outbreak.
The Health Ministry has identified 207 districts across India as non-hotspot districts with positive cases.
According to the strategy, a district currently in hotspots can move to the green category if no new cases arise in 28 days.
"From red zone, a district can switch over to Orange zone if no case is found in the last 14 days. From orange zone a district can go to the green zone if no case is reported in more 14 days, " said the strategy that was chalked out to make India free from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As many As 11 districts in Andhra Pradesh, one district in Bihar, one in Chandigarh, one in Chhattisgarh, nine districts in Delhi, five districts in Gujarat, four districts in Haryana, six districts in J&K, four districts in Karnataka, six districts in Kerala, five districts in Madhya Pradesh, 11 districts in Maharastra, one district in Odisha, four districts in Punjab, 11 districts in Rajasthan, 23 districts in Tamil Nadu, eight districts in Telangana, nine districts in Uttar Pradesh, one in Uttarakhand and four districts in West Bengal have been identified as hotspots (red zone).
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The Health Ministry further said that South Andamans in Andaman and Nicobar Island has been identified as hotspots with a cluster. Similarly, five districts in Assam, three districts in Bihar, Raipur in Chhattisgarh, North West Delhi, Patan in Gujarat, two districts in Haryana, five districts in Himachal Pradesh, two districts in J&K, two districts in Jharkhand, five in Karnataka, one each in Kerala, Ladakh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh, three districts in Maharastra, four in Punjab, four in UP, and Two districts in Uttarakhand have been identified as hotspots districts with a cluster.
The Health Ministry has also identified Logit district in Arunachal Pradesh, seven districts in Assam, seven districts in Bihar, three in Chhatisgarh, North East Delhi, two districts in Goa, 14 districts in Gujarat, 12 districts in Haryana, five in J&K, three in Jharkhand, 11 districts in Karnataka, six in Kerala, one in Ladakh, 17 districts in Madhya Pradesh, 15 districts in Maharastra, East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, Aizawal in Mizoram, seven districts in Odisha, two districts in Puducherry, nine districts in Punjab, 13 in Rajasthan, nine districts in Tamil Nadu, 19 in Telangana, two in Tripura, 28 in UP, two in Uttarakhand, and eight districts in West Bengal have been identified as non-hotspot districts reporting COVID-19 cases.
The strategy prepared by Health Ministry further said that for non-hotspot districts reporting cases States need to ensure that containment measures are taken so as to ensure that case in this area can be contained.
"States also need to undertake effective surveillance of SARI and ILI cases in districts not having any confirmed case so far besides ensuring dedicated COVID-19 hospitals," the strategy pointed out.
