With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing its march across the world, we have been hearing the term “containment zone” often. What does it mean?
A containment zone refers to a specific geographic area where positive COVID-19 cases are found. These zones are created to map local transmission of the disease and to restrict the virus from spreading beyond the containment zone by bringing down people-to-people contact. While the lockdown worked at the national level, containment zones work at the town, panchayat or municipal level.
How are containment zones identified?
The Rapid Response Team identifies containment zones based on the extent of cases listed by it. Every positive case is an epicenter and a containment zone is created around it. The perimeter of a containment zone is decided based on the number of positive cases in the area, its population density and the history of contact tracing there. Areas declared containment zones are sealed, barricaded and restrictions on movement of people imposed. Strict monitoring of movement ensures nobody enters or leaves the zone. However, access to essential supplies and services is allowed.
Who demarcates containment zone?
Civic bodies – town or panchayat authorities – decide on the containment zones, their size and the kind of restrictions imposed after taking into account the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry. How long an area would remain a containment zone is also decided by them after constant reviews. Th criteria applied to containment zones vary, depending on local conditions. From entire localities and streets, to particular apartment blocks and floors, these zones are shrinking in size with time. In some places, a containment zone is declared if three or more infections are detected, and in some even if one is found infected the building where the person resides is declared a containment zone.
When are they denotified?
While some cities denotify containment zones after a 28-day period if no new case emerges, this period is seven or 14 days in others. Containment zones are likely to remain as long as the disease is spreading.
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