Covid-19 numbers neared 400 in East Singhbhum district with the administration setting up five new containment zones in Jamshedpur and its surroundings as cases surged in densely populated areas on Wednesday.

District epidemiologist Dr Asad said numbers were rising fast. The real concern, he added, was that most of the fresh cases were those without a travel history.

"As of 4pm on Wednesday, the total number of Covid-19 positive cases has reached 397. As reports of over two dozen swab tests are yet to come, we anticipate the number of the coronavirus positive cases will surpass 400 by late tonight," he told The Telegraph Online.

Among the new areas from where Covid-19 cases were being reported in large numbers were Uliyan, in densely-populated Kadma, and Aditya Syndicate and Sahara Garden, two residential colonies in Adityapur in neighbouring Seraikela-Kharsawan district, about 4km from the heart of the steel city.

According to the district surveillance office, nine persons from five families tested positive at Ulyan on Tuesday, forcing district health officials to set up a containment zone there.

Sources said the nine persons had come in contact with a middle-aged Covid-19 patient, who was later admitted at Tata Main Hospital. All the nine persons were also admitted to the hospital’s Covid ward on Tuesday evening.

Residents are naturally concerned, especially those living in Ulyan.

"We were not that worried since our locality seemed safe. I was always praying to God to keep all of us at Ulyan safe from the deadly virus. But ultimately it has happened, which was my greatest fear," said Sunil Mukherjee, a resident of Ashok Path.

Those living in and around Aditya Syndicate and adjoining Sahara Garden in Adityapur, from where six persons tested positive on Wednesday, were worried too. The total number of cases in Adityapur touched nine in the past 24 hours. The local administration has set up three containment zones there.

Other areas where cases have come up are Zakirnagar in Mango where two men tested positive after a barber visited their home. On Wednesday, the area was declared a containment zone.

According to the district civil surgeon office, 247 patients admitted to various Covid-designated hospitals in the steel city have recovered. As of now, there are 140 active cases.