Charatala village in Nadia declared as containment zone

Biswabrata Goswami

Statesman News Service

KRISHNAGAR, 19 APRIL: Charatal village, a minority dominated area in Chapra block in Nadia, where an ex-BSF jawan was tested positive for Covid-19, has been declared as a containment zone by the district administration today.

The district administration had already sealed off the village hours after the test report of the ex-jawan was found positive a few days ago. In addition to this, four armed police personnel have been posted round the clock at two ends of the barricade put up on the street. Close circuit cameras have been installed along the main road and 12 civic volunteers and Asha workers have been deployed in the area for communication with the residents.

The administration will provide essential items to people residing in the zone. No one will be allowed to enter or exit from this zone. A door to door health checkup of around 200 families will be carried out to ascertain whether any infected person is residing in the area.

Confirming it, Vibhu Goel, district magistrate said, “As per government guidelines, we have taken action so that no further case is reported from this area. We have announced the area as a containment zone and to check the spread of the dreaded virus, we have started implementing the guidelines”.

Mr Goel also said, “We are also implementing guidelines meant for the containment zone at Burnia in Tehatta where five persons including three minors were tested positive. Though, these people were later found to be tested negative and they were released from the hospital, but we don’t want to leave any stone to check the spread of the dreaded virus in the locality. If required, more areas across the district will be declared as containment zones to breach the chain of the virus”.

Today, an official team including district magistrate and superintendent of police visited Charatala and faced resistance from women and senior citizens. They claimed that their area has been sealed off for the last few days while no food grains or essential things have been supplied by the administration.

“I have had no business for the past one month. My husband who works as a washer man in a private hospital too is idle now. We do not have resources to buy provisions for the entire month at once, and I am embarrassed to call every time I need small amounts of groceries and vegetables costing Rs 20 to Rs 30,” Amina Bibi says.

“Due to lockdown, most of the residents are facing difficult situations. Furthermore, as the village has been declared as a containment zone, it will be very tough for the residents to collect food and essential things if the administration is not providing these to us”, said Manirul Sheikh.

“There is no need to hesitate. We will provide anything the residents need. They just have to say it. Initially, we faced a little resistance but the problem has been solved,” said Mr Goel.

The state government has recently issued guidelines on definition and procedures to be followed in the containment zone besides listing out the roles and responsibilities of various departments to contain the further spread of the Covid-19 across the state.

As per the new guidelines issued by the state government, the area around the house of the Covid-19 patient can be declared as a ‘Containment Zone’ and stringent measures will be put in place to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The activities include banning the movement of people, delivery of all essentials to the doorstep of citizens. The area will continue to remain as a containment zone until no COVID-19 positive case is reported for the next 28-days from the same area.