People flout social distancing norms COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, April 18: During the past 24 hours, 692 positive cases were detected out of 4,567 samples tested both under RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test.  During this period six persons, including two women also died of Covid, making the total number of deaths in the city to 430.

Significantly, the health department on Sunday launched a massive Covid test drive in the public places, especially focusing Kadma and Sonari areas of the city from where maximum number of cases are being reported.

“We have observed that thickly populated business and residential streets are susceptible to the quick spread of the virus. When the first positive case was reported at the basti, the administration failed to take any action. The victim’s house was not sealed and this led to the easy spread of the virus,” said a local resident.
While admitting that the situation is becoming tricky in crowded areas, a senior health officer said people should avoid visiting thickly populated places as far as possible. He said that there is an urgent to conduct random tests at the slum areas. “ If people ensured social distancing norms, the situation could be brought under control within three weeks,” the official noted. Deaths have started taking place of the persons hailing from very densely-populated localities of the city whereas asymptomatic COVID patients are present in an overwhelming number in the steel city.

“ We have noticed that a number of positive cases are coming from areas that are densely populated like Telco, Mango, Jugsalai and Kadma. Business and residential areas located in Sakchi are vulnerable.

Crowded marketplaces and densely populated residential areas surrounding them are emerging as COVID-19 hotspots in the city,” noted an official.

Telco and Mango areas have a large number of small to medium retail and wholesale business houses and are frequented by thousands of customers every day. Most houses here have common walls.

Expressing concern over the growing number of Covid cases in the city, East Singhbhum civil surgeon A K Lal despite the district administration making all efforts, the people are not adhering to the rules of wearing masks and maintaining social distance.

” People are not taking the virus seriously. Markets are flooded with people.   If the people continue to evade following the norms of maintaining social distance and wearing masks, then the number of Covid cases may increase further,” he said.