Nagpur: To ensure continuation of unlock regulations, and prevent rise in Covid-19 positive cases and deaths, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has come up with an action plan.
The civic body has made Covid-19 testing mandatory for all ‘possible superspreaders’ — owners, staffers of essential, non-essential shops, restaurants, hotels, lawns, hawkers, vendors, home delivery boys etc once every fortnight.The state government had allowed total normalcy in cities and districts with weekly test positivity rate (TPR) below 5% and less than 25% occupancy of oxygen beds.
Accordingly, the district has resumed various activities from Monday and increased timings of essential and non-essential shops till 5pm, and allowed restaurants, hotels, and bars up to 10pm.
NMC and Zilla Parishad (ZP) will have to maintain both these parameters for continuation of relaxations.
The government will calculate parameters every Thursday and decision on relaxation or restrictions will be taken on Friday.Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B told TOI, “Testing of staffers of commercial establishments has been made must once in 15 days.
We will help them in testing.
We have allowed their testing at our centres free of cost.
This will ensure continuation of high number of tests and contain any outbreak before it spreads.”Apart from fewer positive cases, high number of tests is required to keep weekly TPR low.Radhakrishnan said special testing camps will be continued at housing societies, flat schemes and residential areas where cases come to fore.
“I held a meeting with officials of all ten zones on Monday and directed to expedite tracing and testing of all contacts of positive patients,” he said.Guardian minister Nitin Raut on Monday held a meeting with representatives of associations related to shops, markets, restaurants, hotels, industries etc.“Hotels, restaurants, marriage lawns, halls, resort, farm houses etc should not turn into hotspots.
Therefore, all these establishments should resume only after vaccination of all staffers.
All owners should ensure compliance of all guidelines by staffers and consumers at these establishments,” he said.Raut added, “Marriage ceremonies turned into hotspots last year.
We lost many people in second wave.
We should not forget second wave.
We should ensure all follow guidelines to prevent third wave.
Entry of staffers and consumers should be restricted if they have any symptoms.”Raut added, “The administration is doing its job.
Cooperation of all people in the district is must.
We have to keep cases low to ensure continuation of unlocking period.
People in large numbers are facing financial crisis due to lockdown and restrictions.
Therefore, we all should not let situation deteriorate from here.”Sportsperson Jitesh Sedani said, “The authorities have allowed saloons, spas, gyms, restaurants, hotels, bars etc, which operate indoors.
When it comes to sports, only outdoor activities have been permitted.
Outdoor sports, especially badminton, has been restricted as per orders issued a day ago.
Already, the players missed regular practice and fitness since long.
Therefore, NMC and ZP should also allow indoor sports activities.”Gathering of five or more people has been restricted after 5pm.
But the police are reportedly finding it difficult to implement it with opening of restaurants, bars etc till 10pm.