Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has identified 11 micro-containment zones in the city, mayor Firhad Hakim said on Friday.
An official of the civic body said several fresh Covid cases were reported from these pockets.
According to a KMC official, a street from where five or more cases and a dwelling unit from where two or more cases are reported in two consecutive weeks will be declared a micro-containment zone. Residents of such a zone will not be allowed to step out of its boundary. “We have identified 11 micro-containment zones as of today (Friday),” Hakim said.
Neither Hakim nor KMC officials named the places declared micro-containment zones.
KMC officials said the civic body would again assess the situation on Monday and decide whether more pockets or buildings need to be declared micro-containment zones.
The KMC has asked its officials in all boroughs and wards to identify clusters of Covid cases, based on which the authorities will decide whether any particular stretch or building will be declared a micro-containment zone. The medical officer of each ward has been told to work with councillors and police so that anyone who tests positive for the Omicron variant is immediately hospitalised, said a civic health department official.
The instructions come in the backdrop of a sharp rise in daily new Covid infections in the city.
On Friday, 1,954 new Covid cases were reported from Kolkata and 3,451 from across the state. On Thursday, 1,090 new cases were reported from Kolkata and 2,128 from the entire state. On Wednesday, 540 new Covid cases were reported from Kolkata and 1,089 from the entire state.
The KMC will open a ‘safe home’ in Topsia in east Kolkata, Hakim said. Covid patients who do not need to be admitted to hospital and lack space at home to stay isolated will be admitted to the safe home.
Officials of the KMC’s health department said a large number of cases were being reported from north and central Kolkata, unlike in the previous phases when south Kolkata accounted for the maximum number of cases.
Hakim said more cases were being reported from apartments and other dwelling units in non-slum areas than from slums.
Civic officials said if one or more residents of an apartment test positive, that apartment would be declared a micro-containment zone.
Others in the building will be free to step out if they have not come in contact with their affected neighbours.
“But if it is found that all residents of the building or the housing complex have come in contact with the patients, then the entire building or the complex will be declared a micro-containment zone,” said an official.
Hakim said the civic body would ask the residents’ association of the building or the complex to close the swimming pool, play area and the gym.
Hakim said a number of CISF personnel have tested positive for Covid. A Kolkata police officer said 35 cops were down with Covid on Friday.