Sealed areas marked red & orange, mass sanitisation drive starts today

TNN | Apr 13, 2020, 04.28 AM IST

New Delhi: Delhi government has decided to launch a massive sanitisation drive from Monday to disinfect the containment zones and their surrounding areas.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a digital press conference on Sunday said that the containment areas have been categorised as red and orange (high-risk). The total number of containment zones touched 43 on Sunday with Kejriwal stating that their numbers could rise in the next couple of days.

Kejriwal said he was concerned about the increasing number of novel coronavirus cases and assured that steps were being taken to contain its spread. “We have declared Covid-19 containment zones as red and orange (high-risk). We have identified more such zones. Areas where more positive cases are found will be declared as containment zones,” he added.

The CM said that Delhi government’s Operation Shield — sealing, home quarantine, isolation and tracking, essential supply, local sanitisation and door-to-door checking — had proved successful in Dilshad Garden, which was a hotspot area until now.

“No new case has been reported in Dilshad Garden in the last 10 days due to Operation Shield. It will be implemented in all areas that have been declared containment zones. I know people will face difficulties, but it is necessary to save their lives,” Kejriwal said.

To sanitise the areas, about 60 vehicles will be pressed into service from Monday. Apart from 50 small machines owned by Delhi Jal Board, 10 technologically-advanced Japanese machines, which had been donated, will be used for the purpose.

On the recent announcement of giving Rs 5,000 to every autorickshaw, gramin sewa and taxi driver in the wake of the lockdown, the CM said that registration would begin from Monday. Such drivers can submit their bank account details on the transport department’s website.

“An applicant who has a valid driving licence and public service vehicle badge will be able to avail the benefit under the scheme,” Kejriwal said. He added that the government was giving free ration to 72 lakh public distribution system beneficiaries and around 23 lakh people who don’t have ration cards.