Bengaluru: Civic body to declare residential complexes with more than 3 COVID cases as containment zones

The move comes after Bengaluru featured in the list of 174 districts with the highest positivity rate in the country. According to the report of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the positivity rate in Bengaluru urban district stood at 12.29 per cent on Wednesday.

According to BBMP data, there are around 479 active containment zones in the city with 189 in Mahadevapura and 112 in Bommanahalli. The city reported 15,617 new cases on Wednesday, which is 73 per cent of the total cases reported in the state.

In an advisory letter to Resident Welfare Associations/Apartment Complexes/Housing Societies issued on Thursday, the civic body said, “In the last 10 days, a rise in the number of cases has been witnessed day by day and it is imperative that we need Increase COVID-19 surveillance in view of wider public health.

The advisory said, “If more than three cases within the apartment complex, or 100 meters perimeter or above and below floor or full block or complete apartment complex in the case of smaller apartments, the entire apartment complex shall be declared as a ‘containment zone’. At least seven days.”

Specifying what would be a containment zone, the advisory said, “If there is one case in each floor, then individual houses in those floors; If there are three cases in one floor, then the whole floor; If 10 cases in a tower, either single floor or multiple floors, the entire tower; If 50 cases in an apartment complex of 50 to 50 houses/> 100 cases in an apartment complex of 100 houses completes the apartment complex.”

It added, “If a containment is declared, all residents of the area will be tested. Detailed contact tracing and surveillance activities will be conducted. All households will be surveyed for the health of vulnerable population. Testing of all populations within containment zones is appropriate, mandatory if symptomatic. ,