Principal Scientific Adviser issues COVID-19 guidelines for densely populated areas

With Dharavi reportedly registering 55 COVID-19 positive cases, the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India while emphasising strict adherence to hygiene and sanitation practice in communities and densely populated areas has issued guidelines for the same to fight against the pandemic.

New Delhi:As Dharavi in Mumbai, Asia's largest slum, has reportedly registered 55 COVID-19 positive cases, the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India on Tuesday has emphasised to promote strict adherence to hygiene and sanitation practice in communities and densely populated areas.

As several densely populated areas across different states have been witnessing the COVID-19 outbreak, the PSA issued guidelines for proper hygiene and sanitation in such areas to fight against the pandemic.

In its guidelines, PSA has suggested states and local bodies as well as communities for its adaptation.

"It's important that all patients in the community with ILI (Influenza-like illness) symptoms such as fever, chills, dry cough, running nose, etc immediately report to the nearest ASHA/Anganwadi and frontline workers," the PSA said in its guidelines.

It has also suggested using face cover by everyone in the community. "All individuals must wear face covers at all times including children older than 3 years. Ensure everyone has access to 100 per cent cotton reusable face covers and they know how to make and wear them properly," the guidelines issued to the States suggested.

The PSA guidelines have pointed out that common use surface such as handles, knobs, doors etc are a major source of disease. "It's recommended that foot-operated hand-washing stations are installed at all public areas, community toilets to enable residents to frequently wash their hands," it said.

The PSA in its guidelines has also suggested that poorly used or maintained community toilets can serve as a major source of disease.

"Individuals must not defecate in the open and instead must use the toilet. The toilet must be kept clean after every use," the PSA said.

It has also suggested for cleaning streets, toilets and walls with chlorine-containing disinfectant by thorough floor mapping, spraying or wiping three times a day.

It may be mentioned here that Dharavi in Mumbai set alarm bells ringing among the civic officials after this slum area reportedly touched 55 COVID-19 cases.

Mumbai is also the worst affected city in India as the total cases have crossed the 1500 mark.