GHMC CLEARS BARRICADES IN RED ZONE

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner D.S. Lokesh Kumar said that the corporation has removed barricading of containment areas in order to facilitate patients during an emergency.

He said there is a delay in shifting the barricades placed at the containment areas or house clusters at the time of emergency when patients have to be shifted to hospitals.

Mr Kumar said that the civic body, following the Covid-19 guidelines prescribed by the state government, has been home isolating all Covid-19 patients in the city, working in tandem with the health and police departments.

The Commissioner said that as of Wednesday, 2192 Covid patients were in home isolation.

However, he clarified that unlike in the past, the corporation has not been barricading the areas since it has become difficult for authorities to shift patients to hospital during emergency situations.

He said there have been 23 such emergencies in the city according to the data provided on Tuesday.

“Previously, barricading was done at containment areas and at apartments which were visible to the public. At present, containment is being done to the particular isolation home only. The health condition of home isolation persons is being monitored twice daily through phone from the control room. In case of emergency, the isolated persons can be easily shifted to hospital for treatment, whereas previously it was difficult because of barricading the area which caused delay in shifting the person to the hospital,” the Commissioner added.