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TUESDAY, A PRIL 07, 2 02 0
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Delhi reports 22 new cases, govt
announces 3 containment zones
COVID-19 More containment zones may be declared in future; Delhi does not have a norm on the size of containment area
HT Correspondents
n htreporters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI : With the number of
Covid-19 cases rising in the
national capital—22 new cases
were reported on Monday tak-
ing the tally to 525—the Delhi
government on Monday
declared three new contain-
ment areas, taking to seven, the
total number of such zones in
the city. More will likely be
declared, a senior official famil-
iar with the matter said on con-
dition of anonymity.
States have some leeway on
defining such areas and accord-
ing to senior officials from the
Delhi health department, a con-
tainment area is declared when
a bunch of cases with unclear
history is reported from a local-
ity. This is done to prevent the
infection from being transmit-
ted to other parts of the city.
Apart from the Nizamuddin
Markaz, four separate contain-
ment areas have been declared
in Dilshad Garden -- all with dif-
ferent focal patients — and one
in a slum cluster in New Moti
Bagh. Another containment
zone was declared in the
Tibetan colony in Majnu Ka Tila
in March, after a Covid-19 posi-
tive patient took a bus from
there to Himachal Pradesh. A
second senior Delhi govern-
ment official said on condition
of anonymity that the contain-
ment period for this area is
almost over.
According to officials, the
separate focal patients — in one
Dilshad Garden case, it is
unclear where the patient got
the infection from — have
raised fresh fears about commu-
nity transmission taking place.
“In hot spots some community
spread may be occurring,” said
Dr Randeep Guleria, director,
AIIMS and a member of the
national task force on Covid-19.
A locality in the Sadar Bazaar
area is also likely to be declared
one after four people from there
tested positive for Covid-19, the
first official added.
Based on the number of cases,
contact tracing history, popula-
Lockdown likely to be
extended beyond Apr 14
n Police personnel screen vehicles for identity cards on day 13 of the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
Peeyush Khandelwal
n peeyush.khandelwal@hindustantimes.com
GHAZIABAD: Uttar Pradesh may
not call off the 21-day lockdown
on April 14 as a senior official in
the state home department on
Monday said that restrictions
cannot be lifted till Sars-Cov-2
virus is wiped out from the state.
Senior government officials said
that the increasing number of
positive Covid-19 cases
remained a worrying factor.
The UP’s additional chief sec-
retary (home), Awanish Awa-
sthi, said that before ending the
lockdown they will have to
ensure that there is “not a single
Covid-19 positive case present”
in the state.
According to officials, the
total number of Covid-19 cases in
the state stood at 305 till Monday
evening, which include 159 cases
related to the last month’s
Tablighi Jamaat congregation at
Delhi’s Nizamuddin. “On Mon-
day, there has been addition of 27
cases and 21 of them are linked to
the Tablighi Jamaat event. Out
of total 305 positive cases, 159 are
linked to Jamaat. There have
been reports which are optimis-
tic about ending the lockdown in
UP after April 14. But, the sensi-
tivity in the state has increased
tion density, and type of locality
– slums or plotted developments
– a geographical area is declared
to be containment area by the
district magistrates or deputy
commissioners, to physically
keep people in.
Delhi does not have a norm on
how big a containment area has
to be; this is decided by the dis-
trict task forces depending on
the information received from
the district surveillance offi-
cers.
“We cannot have the same
guideline throughout Delhi
because the geography is very
different. If we say a 3 km radius
(for instance) it will cover thou-
sands of households. This is not
feasible. We let the implement-
ing officer decide how to demar-
cate the area,” said a senior offi-
cial from the Delhi government.
Although people providing
essential services are allowed to
go out from the area, registers
are maintained to keep a track
of who is going where and they
are asked to use masks and sani-
tisers. And no one is allowed to
enter the area.
“Barricades are placed, all
entries and exit to the area are
sealed off, and police are sta-
tioned to ensure that no one gets
in or out. Essential services can
be delivered to the entry points
from where local volunteers can
take it in. The volunteers are
also tasked with delivering all
essentials to the doorsteps of
people who have been asked to
remain in quarantine,” accord-
ing to a second official.
ASHA workers and ANMs
(Accredited Social Health
Activist and Auxilary Nurse
Midwife) from the dispensaries
attached to the area are asked to
carry out door-to-door surveil-
lance in such areas.
“They visit everyone in the
neighbourhood and check them
for symptoms such as fever,
sore throat, cough, or difficulty
breathing. They also take down
detailed history of where people
have travelled to check for pos-
sible exposure and contact with
the confirmed cases. In case
anyone has symptoms, the
during the past four-five days as
the number of Covid-19 cases
linked to Jamaat has surfaced.
So, it is premature to say
whether the lockdown will end
or not,” Awasthi said during a
press briefing in Lucknow.
Initially, UP chief minister
Yogi Adityanath had announced
a lockdown of 16 districts,
including Ghaziabad and
Gautam Budh Nagar, in the state
on March 22.
Thereafter, in his address to
the nation, Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi on the night of
March 24 announced a country-
wide lockdown for 21 days to pre-
vent the spread of the deadly
virus. The 21-day lockdown will
end on April 14.
Awasthi further said,“So it
cannot be said if the lockdown
will end after April 14 . Our
teams of health, police and gov-
ernment officers are putting in a
lot of efforts and they will have to
work for a longer period. Peo-
ple’s participation is also
required now.”
The officials said that they are
also trying to trace those who
came in contact with the 159 posi-
tive cases linked to Tablighi
Jamaat meet.
“We are also scanning and
searching for a third category of
n A quarantine centre in Saket where 72 people from the Tablighi Jamaat’s Nizamuddin Markaz have been admitted. The capital on Monday
witnessed 22 new cases, nine of which were linked to the Nizamuddin Markaz.
We cannot have the same guideline throughout Delhi
› because the geography is very different. If we say a 3
km radius (for instance) it will cover thousands of
households. This is not feasible. We let the implementing
officer decide how to demarcate the area.
A DELHI GOVT OFFICIAL
healthcare workers immedi-
ately report them to the district
office and, if necessary, they are
taken for testing,” said a third
official.
All decisions in a district are
taken by a 27-member team
headed by the District Magis-
trate. The team includes officers
from the integrated disease sur-
veillance programme, health
department, municipal corpo-
ration, and Delhi pollution con-
trol committee.
The district teams and the
officials of the state Integrated
SUNIL GHOSH/HT PHOTO
people who came in contact with
the second category. At present,
we can say that there is no com-
munity spread as cases and con-
tacts are identified, and before
ending lockdown we will have to
ensure that there is no single
positive case pending in the
state,” Awasthi added.
According to the officials,
about 1,600 people linked to
Tablighi Jamaat event were
identified and nearly 1,200 of
them were sent to quarantine
facilities. They added that 159
positive cases linked to Jamaat
were reported in Agra (29 cases),
Lucknow (12), Ghaziabad (14),
Meerut and Shamli (13 each),
Hapur (3) and Saharanpur (13
cases), among other districts.
Besides, 315 foreigners were
also identified till Sunday and
249 passports have been seized so
far and 42 FIRs filed against
them, the officials said.
Six people from Nepal were
traced by the police in Ghaziabad
on April 1, while 10 Indonesian
nationals were traced and taken
to a quarantine facility after they
were hiding in a madarsa in
Sahibabad on April 4. In Ghazia-
bad, there are a total of 23 cases
and 14 of them are linked to peo-
ple who attended religious con-
gregations.
Disease Surveillance Pro-
gramme exchange notes, to
share details of contacts of posi-
tive cases across districts.
The district magistrates also
coordinate with the police to
ensure that people do not move
around in containment zones
and to bring back people who
might have run away from
quarantine facilities inside the
zones.
“There are multiple What-
sApp groups through which we
are coordinating. We check with
the health department officials
300 teams to keep a watch on
Covid-19 hot spots in GB Nagar
Preety Acharya
n preety.acharya@htlive.com
NOIDA: The district administra-
tion of Gautam Budh Nagar has
constituted 300 surveillance and
containment teams to visit all
spots from where Covid-19 cases
were reported.The teams will
start functioning from Tuesday.
In total, there are 58 Covid-19
patients in the district, of whom
eight have been discharged after
successfully completing treat-
ment. No new case has been
reported in Gautam Budh Nagar
district over the past two days.
According to officials, there
are 12 major clusters in the dis-
trict where initial containment
activities were carried out. From
Tuesday, teams will visit all these
clusters. Each team will have a
health worker, a revenue depart-
ment worker and a policeman.
These teams will cover all areas
within a 3km radius of each clus-
ter. Officials will be visiting each
house to spread awareness on
coronavirus.
They will inform residents
about precautions required to
Jamaat chief gets second notice from cops
HT Correspondent
n htreporters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police’s
crime branch, which is probing
the Tablighi Jamaat chief and his
associates, has sent a second
notice to Maulana Saad, seeking
answers to three more questions
related to the religious gather-
ings in mid-March at the group’s
six-storey headquarters in
Nizamuddin Basti, which has
emerged as the largest hot spot of
coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in
the country.
Saad and six other top Jamaat
functionaries have been booked
for violating several prohibitory
orders issued to stop the spread of
the disease (Covid-19) under sec-
tions of The Epidemic Diseases
Act, 1897. Saad also faces charges
of criminal conspiracy.
The Jamaat headquarters,
also known as Markaz, has been
in case some clarity is needed,
else we inform them about the
status,” said a third senior offi-
cial.
Once a positive case is
reported, the five civic agencies
in Delhi carry out the drive in
their area. In Nizamuddin and
Dilshad Garden, close to
65,000litres and 18,000 litres of
disinfectant have been sprayed
ever since the cases came to
light.
Every police station, includ-
ing Nizamuddin has access to
CCTV cameras in the locality, A
C4I(Control, Command, Com-
munication, and Intelligence)
Centre at the police headquar-
ters, connects CCTV footage
of police cameras across the
city.
Station House Officers have
to immediately inform the area
Sub Divisional Magistrate if
there is a possible case of a Cov-
id-19 infection in the area . The
n A police officer sprays a disinfectant in Sector 24.
avoid the infection, techniques to
sanitize the house and hand-
washing techniques. Officials
will also be collecting informa-
tion about people who have a
travel history to foreign coun-
tries over the past one or two
months. Officials will also be find-
ing out if any of the locals have
any symptoms of Covid-19.
“As per the guidelines, we
have to cover all areas within a
3km radius of the place from
where a Covid-19 case had been
reported. All officials involved in
the activity have been informed
about the procedure. The data
will help us in keeping a tab on
We have not been summoned yet. The Maulana is in
› self-quarantine on doctors’ advice. He will cooperate
with the police when they summon him.
FUZAIL AYYUBI, advocate of Maulana Saad, Tablighi Jamaat chief
linked to over 1,445 infections so
far, or about 35% of the total cases
in India across 17 states and
union territories, as per details
made available by the Union
health ministry.
Saad’s counsel, advocate
Fuzail Ayyubi, confirmed that
the police have sent a second
questionnaire to his client.
“The investigating officer (IO)
has sought some information in
the second questionnaire. We
filed our reply to most of the ques-
tions in the first questionnaire
and told them that for some ques-
tions, we needed time. We could
not get access to some of the
SANJEEV VERMA/HT PHOTO
SDMs then inform the DM. The
DM takes a call and alerts the
district Deputy Commissioner
of Police to help with enforce-
ment.
MORE TESTING LABS
IN UP
Amid the rising Covid-19 cases
in Uttar Pradesh, chief minister
Yogi Adityanath on Monday
gave directions for setting up of
14 new testing laboratories,
including two in Gautam Budh
Nagar, at 14 medical colleges
across the state, senior govern-
ment officials said.
The CM also directed for
upgrading 10 existing laborato-
ries at medical colleges at
Meerut, Prayagraj, Jhansi, Gor-
akhpur, Lucknow, Etawah and
Kanpur, the officials said, add-
ing that the process of upgrade
and commencement of new labs
will start at the earliest with the
help of UP’s ‘Covid care fund’.
HT PHOTO
people’s health. This drive is
called coronavirus awareness
programme,” Dr Sunil Dohre,
additional chief medical officer,
Gautam Budh Nagar, said.
By Monday night, the health
department has notified 1,851
travellers, put 1,225 persons
under surveillance, and collected
samples of 1,030 persons. A total
of 58 positive cases have been con-
firmed, while 678 samples have
come negative and 300 results are
awaited. The district administra-
tion has started a call centre to
address various issues of the pub-
lic related to the Covid-19 out-
break and the lockdown.
records they have sought because
of the lockdown. They have asked
for some clarifications in the sec-
ond notice,” he said.
While crime branch officials
declined to comment on the
progress of the investigation, a
police officer, who did not wish to
be named, said the three ques-
tions seek details of the persons
who attended the congregation
inside the Markaz.
The officer added that some of
the documents and records that
the Markaz provided in response
to the first notice were in Urdu
because of which they needed
clarification.
HIN DUSTA N TIMES, N EW D E LHI
CORONAVIRUS: NOIDA/GZB
National Helpline (Toll free) National helpline email ID
1075 n ncov2019@gov.in
+91-11-23978046 n ncov2019@gmail.com
UP Police Emergency Control room 112
UP Covid-19 helpline 18001805145
Electricity (UPPCL for all discoms) 0120-2510738, 1912
Covid helpline 24x7 8076623612, 6396776904,
0120-2569901
Covid-19 nodal officer - Addl. DCP 8595902512
Lockdown passes- DCP Zone 1 8595902505
Waste, water and garbage 0120-2425025/26/27
Waste, water, and garbage 0120-2336046/47/48/49
Covid helpline 24x7 0120-4186453, 2965757,
2965758
Water helpline, sewerage 1800-180-3012
Garbage collection Local councillors to be contacted
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is what you can or cannot do during the national
lockdown in view of the Covid-19 pandemic
1 2 3
There is a power My local pharmacy I need physio-
cut in my house, is shut. Can I call therapy,
what can I do? for medicines? can I go?
You can complain to Yes. E-commence Yes. Medical
the discom. Electricity, websites facilities are part
water etc are selling of essential
essential medicines are services
services in service
4
I have run out of pet food. Can I get it delivered?
Yes. You can order pet food through e-commerce websites.
The Animal Welfare Board has also issued an advisory
to local authorities that street animals be fed regularly
5 6
I need a new pair of I don’t own a car,
headphones. Where can what do I do in case of
I order it? emergency?
No. Only shops selling In case of a medical
essential commodities emergency, you can
are allowed to remain open call an ambulance
7
Can my domestic help come home?
There is no direction to stop their movement . Many
residents and resident welfare associations have
voluntarily asked domestic helps not to come. But it might
be difficult for them to travel, given the lack of public
transport
8 9
I have no vegetables at Can I order food from
home. Can I order them restaurants?
online? Zomato, Swiggy, Grofers, along
Yes. The supply of all with Reliance Fresh, Big Bazaar and
other vendors won’t
essential commodi-
ties will continue deliver food but will
on e-commerce deliver all essential
websites services at doorsteps in
Noida and G Noida
WHAT’S OPEN, WHAT’S NOT
BANNED ALLOWED
n Offices charged with law
TRANSPORT and order, magisterial duty
n Private buses
n Police
n Taxis
n Healthcare facilities
n Auto-rickshaws
n Fire services
n Rickshaws
n Fair price shops (PDS)
n E-rickshaws
n All flights n Electricity, water
n Metro trains n Municipal services
n Interstate buses, trains n State assembly activities
n Print and electronic media
PLACES
n Pay and accounts office
n Commercial establishments
n Banks and ATMs
n Factories
n Workshops n Telecom, internet and
n Offices
postal services
n Godowns n Milk plants
n Weekly bazaars n General provision stores
n Borders with Delhi n Take away/home delivery
n Construction work n Chemists and pharmacies
n Religious places n Petrol pumps
RESTRICTED
n Any congregation of 4 or more persons
n Public transport buses are not operating
On Sunday afternoon, a team
of five experts from the Central
Forensic Science Laboratory’s
(CFSL) biology, chemistry, com-
puter forensics and photo depart-
ments visited the Markaz build-
police also sought details of all
people, including foreigners, who
were present in the building last
month. There was also a question
about the steps taken by the man-
agement to disperse the gather-
ing. “Delhi Police officers said ing after the government’s pro-
they will send us the exhibits hibitory orders were issued.
later. Our personnel who went Police have accused Saad of
inside the building have been ignoring the Delhi government’s
advised to go in self-quarantine March 13 and March 16 orders
as a precautionary measure,” a that put a ban on religious con-
forensic officer said, adding that gregations.
no electronic device was recov- Saad’s lawyer denied reports
ered from the building. that the Tablighi chief was
In the first notice, which had 26 absconding. “We have not been
questions, sent on April 1, the IO summoned yet. The Maulana is in
sought details of CCTV cameras self-quarantine on doctors’
inside the building, and asked advice. He will cooperate with the
Saad to preserve all CCTV foot- police when they summon him,”
age. Other information sought Ayyubi said.
included the original register/ The police have put barricades
data/records maintained by the on all lanes leading to the Markaz.
building management with A total of 2,361 people, including
details of those who participated about 250 foreigners, were evacu-
in gatherings after March 12. The ated from the building.