BMC Identifies 191 Coronavirus ‘Containment Zones’ In Mumbai

by Gizel Menezes
BMC Identifies 191 Coronavirus ‘Containment Zones’ In Mumbai

Maharashtra has emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in India with 335 cases and 13 deaths. In Mumbai itself, the number of positive cases has risen to 181. Therefore, in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified over 191 ‘containment or no go zones’ across the city with the help of Mumbai police.

Image Courtesy: India Today

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What Is A Containment Zone?

A containment zone is an area where a positive case of COVID-19 has been found or an area where high/low-risk contacts of the patient live. The premises of the zone are sealed and no person in that area is allowed to step out of their home. Grocery and other essential services are provided to them. The lanes surrounding the containment zones are also cordoned off and police are posted at all entry and exit points. Violation of these restrictions is punishable under law.

The BMC has started the Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of the areas where the positive patients were found. The maps and statistics of the areas where maximum patients will be found will be uploaded on the BMC website. Apart from that, the BMC is also conducting a door-to-door screening of all these residents.

Image Courtesy: Free Press Journal

Which Are The Containment Zones Identified In Mumbai?

The number of containment zones spread across the city has been identified. By the end of Wednesday, the number in both the eastern and western suburbs of Mumbai increased from 146 to 191.
Parts of the city like Worli Koliwada, Prabhadevi, Kalina (near Santacruz Airport), Bimbisar Nagar in Goregaon, Kandivali-Lokhandwala, and Ghatkopar have been identified as ‘hotspots’, where the chances of the coronavirus spreading are high. The Worli Koliwada in Mumbai is one of the largest containment zones, where the movement of about 35,000 people has been restricted. In Bimbisar Nagar of Goregaon, eight buildings have been cordoned off.
Health Minister of Maharashtra, Rajesh Tope, has said that the number of high-risk contacts in Maharashtra has reached to 5,343. High-risk contacts are those people who have come in close contact with positive patients. Tope also said there is no community spread in the state and that all positive patients in the state either have a travel history or have come in close contact with a positive patient.