Hyd, neighbour dists Covid hotspots soon
Stay away from others, don’t go out unless very necessary, are the only ways to curb its spread
With coronavirus cases popping up in several parts of the city, it is feared that the whole of Hyderabad, as well the neighbouring districts of Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri, may turn into a hot zone for the Covid-19 disease.
This should be a compelling reason for people to stay put in their homes and scrupulously follow the directions of the state government with respect to the lock down.
Since coronavirus is known to spread from person to person, an effective way to contain its spread is to stay away from others to the extent possible and not step out of the house unless absolutely necessary. And when such is the case, limit the time spent outside the home to the minimum, come back home, wash hands thoroughly and take all the other hygiene precautions to ensure the safety and security of others at home. So far, positive cases of coronavirus infections have been reported from Manikonda, Kukatpally, Kokapet, Chandanagar, Shantinagar in Saidabad, Secunderabad, Begumpet, Somajiguda, Banjara Hills and Balkampet in and around the city of Hyderabad.
Typically, when more than one case is found in a given locality, and such has been the case in at least two instances in the city so far, the containment protocol calls for a lockdown in a three kilometre radius of the epicentre with no one allowed to leave or enter the containment zone.
While the geographical spread of positive cases by itself is a serious concern in terms of containment, the safety of people whom the confirmed coronavirus patients have come in contact with - who could be ‘close contacts’, such as members of their families or more importantly others outside of the families who are residents of other parts of the city - has left the government with no option but to take strict action to limit exposure of people to any possibility of contracting the virus.
Nearly 78 per cent of people who might have contracted the virus never display serious symptoms or come down with the disease itself. But they could still be carriers of the virus and spread it to the more vulnerable among the population such as elders, children or those already suffering from diseases such as diabetes and those related to heart, kidneys or the upper respiratory tract. Such being the case, government officials are at pains to explain the importance of staying put at home during the lock down period and are repeatedly urging people to respect the lock down procedures.
WHEN MORE than one case is found in a given locality, and such has been the case in at least two instances in the city so far, the containment protocol calls for a lockdown in a 3 km radius of the epicentre with no one allowed to leave or enter the containment zone.