Coronavirus: Rajpura first Punjab town to be notified as ‘buffer zone’

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 23

The Deputy Commissioner has notified Rajpura in Patiala district as “buffer zone”, making it the first town in Punjab to be designated as such.

The movement from Rajpura to Patiala has been restricted.

A total of 41 samples were taken from Rajpura town today.

“The move was inevitable in wake of recent spike in cases. We cannot allow cases from Rajpura to spread to nearby districts and towns,” said Patiala DC Kumar Amit.

In fact, the spike in positive cases from just two to 49—within seven days—was an outcome of curfew violations in Rajpura. Hundreds of people—including children—are now at risk of getting the infection in the district.

Over 18 have tested positive for coronavirus from Rajpura alone in past three days and many samples still await lab reports.

Meanwhile, district administration along with police have sealed all exit and entry points to and from Rajpura to ensure that the guidelines pertaining to buffer zone are strictly implemented and “no one is allowed to carry the virus out of the town till the source and those who have tested positive turn negative”.

“We are monitoring the situation and all further decisions will be taken strictly as per guidelines pertains to the spread,” the DC said.

"Buffer zone" is a term usually used around wildlife protected forest area where no other activity or humans is allowed. It’s is restricted only for wildlife and in Covid-19 context, it simply means that “no activity will be allowed by outsiders” or by those inside Rajpura who willl “not be slows to leave the town”.

“This is important to save nearby populace from contracting the disease,” said officials.

Officials confirm that the spike in cases with majority of them being “man made” due to curfew violations and gatherings is one of the prime reasons why the spread in Rajpura had spiralled to an alarming level.

“Necessary steps are being taken. We have intimated the administration and the government”, said a top health department functionary, who says that random sampling will be increased further.

Two days back Deputy Commissioner Kumar Amit had ordered the sealing of Rajpura. The health department started screening and collected over 100 samples.

While many of those from Rajpura who have tested positive have denied that they were part of any party of get-together as in the town’s underbelly, police have booked two of the patients who had violated curfew restrictions.

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