Containment zone duration down from 28 days to 14

The state government has issued revised guidelines on containment zones, which reduce the surveillance period from 28 to 14 days.

No: HFW 311 ACS 2020 Date; 18.08.2020 Revised Circular Subject: Revised guidelines for containment and buffer zones References:

In view of evolving situation of COVID-19 in the State, there are large number of cases reported in houses and apartments which are closely located. This has led to too many Containment Zones, thus making it difficult for authorities to conduct surveillance activities and ensure perimeter control. In this context the following revisedCdrcular is Issued on Notification and de-notification of Containment and Buffer Zones.

1 . Notification Of Containment Zone

1. Containment Zone: Containment Zone is a well-defined “area” around the residence of a COVID -19 positive person where the most intensive measures to prevent the spread of viral infection need to be Implemented.

The ‘area’ is defined as follows for “an individual case” reported’

For an apartment complex – The floor which has the residence of COVID positive person

For an independent house/Villa – The Independent house/villa where COVID positive person resides

For a slum area (notified or otherwise) – The street which has the residence of COVID positive person

For a rural area, the complete habitation where the COVID – positive person resides or a smaller contiguous area as deemed appropriate.

For individual cases, the authorities should paste notice on house, inform the neighbor/RWA/Apartment owners Association, identify contacts, advice strict home quarantine, ensure testing of contacts, etc.

The area shall be defined for “a cluster of cases” as follows’

If more number of cases are reported from art area, for operational purposes, the containment zones shall be bigger in size and cover the cluster of closely located COVID patients.

The size and boundary shall be decided by:

Mapping of cases and contacts 1.3.2. Geographical dispersion of cases and contacts

Area having well demarcated perimeter

Enforceability of perimeter control

This area should therefore be appropriately defined by Deputy Commissioner of the district/ Commissioner-BBMP with technical inputs at local level and by Identifying roads, drains, parks or other features for dear geographical segregation for effective perimeter control. For effective containment, it is advisable to err on the side of caution. The authorities shall ensure cost-effective hard barricading for better perimeter control.

Buffer Zone:

The ‘Buffer Zone is defined as an area where new cases are more likely to appear.

• Buffer Zone an area of 200 meters radius around the Containment zone” in both urban and rural areas Deputy Commissioner of the District /Commissioner-BBMP shall define the “Buffer Zone” as per the above criteria by Identifying roads, drains, and parks or other features for clear geographical segregation.

2. Active surveillance: Active surveillance and physical distancing measures should be in place In containment and buffer zones to avoid spread of Covid-19 Infection. The house to house surveillance should be done daily in the containment zones while in the buffer zone it ihotild be done twice in a week.

3. De-notification of Containment zone.

o Containment Zone returns to normalcy if no new COVID-I9 rise is reported for at least 14 days after the last COVID-19 case was reported. and all the contacts of the confirmed case have been followed up for 14 days

There Is no necessity of hard barricading in such cases. Hand stamping of case and contacts Is not necessary.