70% Covid cases in Agency areas are of non-locals
It is traders and nonAdivasis settled in agency areas, who account for 70 per cent of Covid-19 cases in the region, health officials have disclosed.
The agency, consisting of 11 mandals, has reported 704 positive Coronavirus cases till Tuesday of whom four persons have succumbed to the disease. Officials said non-tribals in these mandals are more mobile and move from one place to another, often interacting with friends and relatives. Non-tribals also make trips to their native places and their relatives too visit them in agency areas because of the beautiful surroundings.
During the lockdown, not a single Covid-19 case was reported, as the entire agency area had been sealed from the outside world.
Hotels and tourist spots were closed and most people remained indoors. Not a single soul was seen on the roads, recalled Joint Action Committee convener Rama Rao Dora.
The moment agency areas were thrown open, outsiders, mostly students, traders and employees, began entering the agency. Along with them arrived the deadly Covid-19 virus, Dora complained.
“Two senior officials from Genco office at Sileru went to Vijayawada for a conference. Subsequent to their returning home, they hosted parties and attended weddings. Both these officials tested positive and infected over 50 employees,” additional district medical and health officer Dr. Kimidi Leela Prasad told Deccan Chronicle/
He said among those affected by Coronavirus, only 6–8 are Adivasis. Rest are all from plain areas. Similarly, 11 police personnel of Hukumpeta police station alone had contracted the virus. All of them are non-tribals. “According to rough estimates, around 70 per cent of the cases could be attributed to the non-tribals,’’ Dr. Prasad stated.
While non-tribals suffered, Adivasis kept away from major towns and villages, confining themselves to their homes and working in their own agricultural fields. Even MNREGA works have been stalled since July midweek due to rains. This too kept tribals isolated.