'Emphasis on controlling virus 'explosion' in Chandigarh locality'

Authorities in Chandigarh on Thursday said their main emphasis was on controlling the 'explosion' in the packed-to-the gills Bapu Dham locality from where 122 of the total 191 COVID-19 patients were reported 68.3 per cent of the total cases and 77.5 per cent of active patients.

"Our focus is on intensive testing in the city and Bapu Dham colony, which largely comprising economically weaker section dwellers, is a major concern for us as in small dwelling units there are 10 to 15 people are living together," Chandigarh Administrator V.P. Singh Badnore told media at a virtual interaction.

He said the full concentration is to prevent the community spread in Bapu Dham in Sector 26, which houses nearly 60,000 people, largely economically weaker sections and slum dwellers.

"Bapu Dham is a challenge with large vulnerable sections."

Fearing an outbreak, authorities have decided to quickly set up a quarantine facility in neighbouring two schools where the senior citizens and families of the positive cases would be kept for preventing the virus spread.

Protective gear has been given to doctors and nurses deployed there, Badnore said. The administration on Thursday extended the holidays indefinitely in all schools in the city.

On April 25, Chandigarh Police had registered a case against a 30-year-old COVID-19 patient, the first case reported from Bapu Dham, who was employed with Government Medical College and Hospital

( With inputs from IANS )