The district administration will impose strict lockdown restrictions across Jamshedpur and has asked police to conduct regular inspections at markets to ensure social distancing norms are adhered to in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases which indicates that community transmission may have begun in East Singhbhum.

District civil surgeon R.N. Jha said they were also considering converting some of the institutional quarantine centres into Covid-19 wards to tackle the increase in numbers. He said they were looking at Telco Dealers' Hostel but a Tata spokesperson said he wasn’t aware of any such move at the moment.

"We have already provided a 20-bed Covid ward at Telco with the facility to increase capacity. We don’t think a new Covid ward is required at the Telco. Also, we are not aware of the decision of the district administration about the turning the quarantine centre at the hostel into a Covid ward," the spokesperson told The Telegraph Online.

During the past 24 hours, 58 more people have tested positive for the coronavirus. With that, the total number of patients in East Singhbhum is 584. Seven of the 58 new cases have had a history of travel, but the remaining 51 seem to have got exposed to the virus on their own.

Of the total number of patients, two have died and 360 have recovered. In all, East Singhbhum has 266 patient undergoing treatment in various hospitals.

District surveillance officer A.K Lal said the increase in numbers was indeed alarming. "In some of the cases, we are unable to trace point of contact. This indicates that the steel city could be on the verge of community spread of the Coronavirus," Lal said.

East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla held meeting with senior police officials at his chamber on Wednesday. SP M Tamil Vanan said that it was decided to form separate teams to carry out random checks at markets and road-side eateries between 4pm to 7pm every day.

“The idea is to ensure people wear masks and maintain social distancing. Not more than five people are allowed to gather at any eatery or shop. Anyone violating lockdown norms will be taken to task by police," the SP told the media.

He also warned shops not to stay open beyond 8.30 pm, saying that if they did, the administration would seal the establishment