Tablighi event: Cluster quarantine in 10 areas in 4 Guj cities

Ahmedabad, Apr 6 () As many as ten localities infour cities in Gujarat have been placed under clusterquarantine to contain the spread of coronavirus after someattendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi last monthtested positive in these areas, a senior official said onMonday.

These comprise six localities in Ahmedabad, two inVadodara and one each in Surat as well as Bhavnagar, saidAshwani Kumar, Secretary to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

"When members of Tablighi Jamaat returned to Gujaratfrom Delhi, it led to spread of COVID-19 cases. Because ofthis, six areas in Ahmedabad, that is one in Bapunagar, two inKalupur, and one each in Dariyapur, Shah Alam and Danilimda,were converted into cluster quarantine," Kumar said.

Similar is the case with Nagarwada and Saiyadpura inVadodara, Sachin in Surat and Sandhiyawad in Bhavnagar, Kumaradded.

"Such a step has been taken to ensure the spread ofcoronavirus is contained in areas where these Tablighi Jamaatattendees have tested positive," he said.

A health department official on Monday said at least10 of the 16 new COVID-19 positive cases detected had a linkto the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin.

Cluster containment strategy is meant to contain thedisease within a defined geographic area by early detection ofcases, breaking the chain of transmission and thus preventingits spread to new areas, as per health ministry guidelines.

A containment zone is decided on the basis of extentof cases listed by surveillance teams.

Agiven geographical area is quarantined, put underenhanced active surveillance, and measures taken comprisetesting of all suspect cases, enforcing strict perimetercontrol for social distancing measures, said an official.KA PDBNM BNM