Delhi district authorities are carrying out strict and aggressive strategies to control the spread of coronavirus cases as the capital city is witnessing a surge. The strategies include tracing and testing at least 30 contacts of people who are found COVID-19 positive.

An official from the south district said that the containment approach is the same and the number of zones has increased. They are following the strategy of tracing at least 30 contacts of those who have tested positive. Earlier, it was around 20 contacts, but now has increased. He further stated that there is pressure related to vaccination of identified recipients and the district machinery is trying to mobilise as many recipients for immunization.

Cheshta Yadav, district magistrate (north west) said that the North West district is conducting almost 5,000 RT-PCR tests daily. They have increased the testing and re doing ‘line listing’ of contacts and are getting them compulsorily tested. Line listing is an organised and comprehensive list of cases with separate records that helps to track the multiple individuals at one place, mostly during an outbreak or pandemic.

Sanjeev Khirwar, Divisional commissioner, recently issued an order asking all the district magistrates to increase surveillance efforts and create the COVID awareness in ‘super spreader’ areas such as weekly markets, shopping malls, cinema halls, worship places and Delhi Metro trains. Random testing of passengers who arrive at railway stations and inter-state bus terminals (ISBT) from different states where coronavirus cases are increasing are also intensified. 

Shahdara district authorities have started random testing of passengers who arrive at Anand Vihar landing from buses near the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border even before the ISBT reopened. The testing has been intensified now, with ISBTs at Kashmere Gate and Sarai Kale Khan. Yadav further said that surveillance of patients in home isolation is being done carefully.

Source: ET Healthworld