In Rewari, quick thinking, lots of precaution pay off

Ravinder Saini

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Rewari, April 10

When all districts were home quarantining those with foreign travel history to check community transmission of Covid, Rewari was one step ahead. It began placing under surveillance people returning from even high-risk states such as Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra and Kerala and was, perhaps, the first in the state to do so. This, and several other measures later, no Covid case has been reported in the district that borders Rajasthan.

District authorities took the lead in turning several educational institutes into quarantine centres and establishing specialised ICU for Covid suspected/patients at the Civil Hospital, while taking precautionary measures well before the nation-wide Janata Curfew announced by the Prime Minister on March 22.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, authorities set up the Disaster Relief Fund to collect funds, food and necessary items for the needy and sealed entry, exit points on the border with Rajasthan where Covid cases were being reported. It is the outcome of timely action, a slew of precautionary measures and strict execution of lockdown that the district authorities and people can breathe easy.

As many as 1,468 persons — 82 with foreign travel history and 1,386 with domestic travel history — are presently under surveillance. Besides, 100 persons have completed their quarantine period and 36 out of 53 samples tested have been found negative and reports of 17 were awaited.

Social activist Naresh Chouhan said the lockdown revived memories of the Emergency imposed in 1975, but with a difference. “Back then the common man was scared of the district administration for various reasons and that made people stay house. This time, people are afraid of Covid and not the district administration and have hence home quarantined themselves to fight the virus. This is the basic reason Rewari is so far safe,” he said.

Ishwar Yadav, a physician, said residents of Rewari district were well aware of the Covid threat were fully cooperating with the district administration to make the lockdown a success. “I too am not running my clinic and staying indoors,” he said.

Saket Dhingra of Chhipatwada locality said adequate supply of essential commodities on every doorstep had ensured a near-total lockdown. “Vendors are reaching every street to sell vegetables and fruits. Hats off to the administration,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Yashendra Singh said they started creating awareness about the Covid pandemic through ASHA workers and other health officials in February itself. “Sincere efforts were made to prevent the assembly of people in the district. Public movement was restricted. Shopkeepers were challaned. FIRs were lodged against violators of lockdown and more than 500 vendors were registered to provide vegetables, fruits and grocery items on the doorstep so people do not have to move out,” he said.

The DC admitted it was a challenge to trace people with foreign and domestic travel history, but it was done. “All such persons were quarantined at home and their samples collected for Covid testing.”

Migrant exodus checked too

• Rewari district has two industrial towns — Dhaaruhera and Bawal. Over 40,000 migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states work in the 175 small and large-scale industries.
• They live in rented accommodation around factories and survive on meagre earnings, but the administration managed to prevent their exodus with proactive measures.
• It ensured release of their salary by employers before March 31 and ensured they got food and shelter. At present, 1,702 labourers were staying in relief camps.