The district administration on Sunday initiated the process to develop six containment zones at Jamadoba of Jharia, after 20 persons tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday night.

An employee of Jamadoba Colliery of Tata Steel, admitted to Tata Main hospital, tested positive on Thursday, leading to temporary closure of the colliery.

Following contact tracing, samples of 88 persons who had come into contact with the infected person were taken.

Of these, 20 were detected Covid positive on Saturday night and admitted to the Covid hospital of Dhanbad.

An intensive sanitisation and disinfection drive was conducted in Tata Jamadoba Colony area on Sunday under the supervision of sub-divisional officer, Raj Maheshwaram.

Contact tracing of 240 persons was carried out and their swab samples taken for testing.

Dhanbad deputy commissioner Amit Kumar, taking into account the rise in Covid cases during the past week, instructed all the company commanders to enforce strict restrictions on movement from 9pm to 5am.

He asked to ensure that not more than 50 persons participated in marriage functions and not more than 20 in funeral processions.

Kumar also directed a strict ban on spitting in public places, besides restricting the use of liquor, gutkha, betel leaf, tobacco and tobacco products in public places.

Senior citizens, children below 10 years of age and pregnant women were asked not to venture out of their houses.

On workplace rules, he said, mandatory distance between the employees would have to be maintained.

Kumar instructed that shops should not allow more than five persons at a time and that the use of sanitiser will be mandatory.

“Mandatory social distancing between the shop owner and customers will have to be maintained, regular sanitisation and mandatory wearing of gloves and masks will also be ensured,” he added.