Things to know about containment zones

With the constant increase in coronavirus country, several states identified some places as hotspots and declared many of them as containment zones.

Hotspots are areas where a higher number of cases are emerging. If more positive cases are seen from other than family members of patients, then there will be a risk community transmission. In such situations, the government sealed off these areas to prevent entry to or exit from the area.

Here are some important things to know about containment zones:

• Containment zones are barriers created around the focus of infection. Containment zones have more stringent restrictions on movement of people. People whose houses fall under the containment zone will not be allowed to step out from their houses even for essential things.
• All essential things will be home-delivered by the local administration. They will tie up with market associations to supply all essential items.
• All shops including pharmacies will remain shut in these areas. Banks will also remain closed. However, medicines will be door delivered.
• Media will also be not allowed into the zone. Only authorized persons will be allowed to enter and exit, but they will have to be registered while doing so.
• Serious medical cases will be exempt, but only after proper verification.
• Special response team including the police will watch these zones with the help of CCTV cameras and drones.
• Extra safety measures will be taken in these areas. These include massive sanitization drives, spraying disinfectants at regular intervals, door-to-door screening by health workers and cleaning the doors of all homes.
• There is no specific time limit for the removal of restrictions. They will continue until the zone is safe with no coronavirus transmission.
• Multiple screening will take place to check for the symptoms of COVID-19. Residents should not leave their home even for regular walking. Walking is not allowed even on inner roads and parks in gated communities.
• Violators may get imprisonment of up to two years and a fine decided by the enforcing agencies.

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