South Kolkata Covid clusters under cop-KMC lens – Times of India

KOLKATA: The pockets in the city, which had emerged as Covid hotspots during the first and the second wave, are reporting a marginal rise in cases once again. Though the situation isn’t alarming, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Kolkata Police are keeping a close watch. The actual numbers, though, remain miniscule when compared to the two earlier waves.
An internal survey by the KMC health department recently found a slight increase in Covid positive cases in Behala, areas in the Garia-Patuli belt, Jadavpur-Baghajatin belt, Bansdroni and a few localities off EM Bypass. Civic officials at the boroughs concerned have been asked to keep a special vigil surveillance on these areas ahead of a festive season.

A KMC-KP joint surveillance team has been set up to enforce Covid protocols and ensure that cases do not surge. There will be special monitoring over markets and shopping complexes to ensure that people do not hang around without masks.
“The marginal rise in Covid positive cases is not a major threat. But we need to be careful. Hence, we are intensifying our vigil at the markets and malls that are located in the vicinity of these neighbourhoods,” said a KMC health department official.
Most of the localities that have recorded a marginal rise in Covid cases share their border with South 24 Parganas. “Owing to their proximity to Sonarpur and Maheshtala, which till recently had containment zones, the chances of people travelling into these neighbourhoods is always high. Also, with the festive season kicking off with Ganesh Puja this week followed by Vishwakarma Puja thereafter, there are chances of crowding,” said a police officer.
According to a KMC official, the civic vaccination centres in the Garia-Patuli belt, Tollygunge and some localities off Bypass are also drawing many people from Canning, Joynagar, Dakshin Barasat and Baruipur. “This is an area where we need to be extra vigilant. We can’t refuse people coming from districts for taking vaccines. But we need to enforce adherence to Covid protocols,” said the official.