Health Ministry declares 170 districts as coronavirus COVID-19 hotspots; clarifies no community transmission in India yet

The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday asserted that 170 districts have been identified as coronavirus COVID-19 hotspots and 207 districts as cluster containment across the country after the districts were categorised into three zones. The districts of the country will be classified into three categories--hotspot districts, non-hotspot districts but where the cases are being reported and green zone districts.

Addressing a press conference Ministry of Health Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal also clarified that so far no community transmission in India took place but added that there have been some local outbreaks. He said that 1,076 new cases emerged in the last 24 hours, adding that 270 people have been cured in a day.

The Joint Secretary said that hotspots are selected on two grounds, one where cases are emerging more and the other where the doubling rate is higher. If there are less than or equal to 15 cases in an area, then it is considered as a cluster containment zone.

He said that all the states have been told that the period of lockdown is to be utilized properly, adding that districts, where cases are being reported but are not hotspots, need to work proactively and initiate containment strategies.

Agarwal added that the district administrations have been asked to promote appropriate drug and non-pharmaceutical interventions and train all staff involved in infection control and clinical management staff. "We have asked the districts to use AIIMS call centres and to conduct patient clinical management as per protocol. Data will be analyzed on the basis of field survey at the district level," he added.

"Every case has been asked to be monitored on a daily basis at the district level. The districts have been asked to tell about staff infection prevention. The districts which are getting the case report today may be potential hotspots and also need to be focused. The government is trying to keep non-effective districts as non-effective. All districts have been asked to prepare COVID-19 plan in their respective districts," added Agarwal.

Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) R Gangakhedkar said, "As per research in China, it was found that coronavirus might have originated due to mutation in bats. Bats might have transmitted it to pangolins, from pangolins it got transmitted to humans. We also conducted surveillance, in which we found that there are two types of bats, and they carried coronavirus which was not capable of affecting humans. It's rare, maybe once in 1,000 years that it gets transmitted from bats to humans."

The Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson said, "Today, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order which would give some relaxation in such areas which are not sensitive. The district officer has been asked to follow the national COVID-19 direction. No one should have any doubt about whether the lockdown will continue. Relief has been given for rural development and economy. It is necessary to follow social distancing."