Patiala, August 9

Following surge in Covid cases, the Health Department declared five new micro-containment zones in the district today. With this, 17 areas have been converted into micro-containment-zones in the district. Of these 17 micro-containment zones, 16 were declared in the past two days. Of the five micro-containment zones declared today, three are in Patiala city and two in Nabha town.

Though the Health Department claimed that micro-containment zones were declared to stem the local spread of Covid, the micro-containment technical committee highlighted in its report that the spread of the virus was from occupational sites.

Reacting to the report, the Health Department clarified that micro-containment zones were declared where epidemiological linkage was established. “There are many areas where linkage could not be established,” the department said while adding, “Therefore those areas have not been converted into micro-containment zones.”As part of the micro-containment strategy, the said areas will stay physically cut off from the rest of the city for the next 10 days. However, such containment zones have been opposed in the past. Residents have protested against declaration micro-containment zones as there was short supply of essential items in these areas. — TNS