Covid cases surge in Ambattur, Mogappair, but hygiene, surveillance non-existent
Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com
Chennai:18.08.2020
Mani, a photocopy shop owner in Ambattur zone, was at work on Sunday when a traffic policeman from Asiad Colony asked him to make a few copies of a report. It was only after seeing the report that Mani realised the latter was Covid positive. He informed a corporation official but the latter escaped.
This is a reflection of the situation in Ambattur, where one third of the total reported cases were reported in the last 16 days. It now has most positive cases in the city.
From March to August 16, it had 7,604 cases — 3,195 in July, 2016 since August1and 84 deaths. Mogappair remains a major hotspot. In wards 92 and 93, shops and eateries on Padikuppam Main Road, Pari Salai and Bazaar Road function well past 9pm, sparking fears of new clusters emerging.
Umanath V, a resident, said there was no social distancing in fish market and meat shops since the lockdown eased. “Officials are slack and door to door surveillance is not regular,” he said.
There were just 2,014 fever camps since May 8 and only 20 a dayin June andJuly with 600-odd participants, while Anna Nagar and Kodambakkam held 30-40 camps with almost 4,000 participants daily.
Several ground level officials blamed the lack of inter-departmental coordination. “The number of sanitary officers in Anna Nagar and Kodambakkam is higher than this zone. Every day inspections and meetings are not being held,” said one official.
In April and May, Ambattur was at the bottom. “There is nothing unusual about this zone seeing a surge. It is normal in a pandemic for cases to come up in areas not affected,” said Dr P Ganeshkumar, scientist, ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology. Assistant city health officer Mahalakshmi said procedures followed in other zones are followed here. “But since mobility has increased, infections will rise.”
People crowd a stall in Mogappair
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