The civic body is planning to reintroduce a strategy to declare containment zones, with restrictions on public movement in specific areas with higher number of cases.
(Representational/Express photo by Ashish Kale)
With a significant increase in the positivity rate of coronavirus infections in the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is taking serious measures to tackle the situation, starting with making RT-PCR tests mandatory for all passengers travelling from Kerala to Pune.
Over 70 per cent of Covid-19 cases in India are being reported from Kerala and Maharashtra.
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“It is necessary for all passengers coming from Kerala to the city to strictly follow Covid-19 containment rules and guidelines. It includes mandatory RT-PCR tests for all those coming to the city from Kerala,” said Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar.
Passengers from Kerala will have to submit a negative report of Covid-19 test, done within 72 hours before travel, at the entry point at the airport or railway station. Otherwise, they will have to undergo screening at a civic facility.
The order comes in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases in the city, and after the positivity rate rose from 4.6 percent last week to 12.5 percent this week. The civic body is also planning to reintroduce a strategy to declare containment zones, with restrictions on public movement in specific areas with higher number of cases.
The number of active cases, which touched the peak of around 18,000 in July last year, had dropped to 1,383 on February 7. But the number has been rising again and on February 17, Pune reported 1,881 cases. The PMC has scaled up testing to identify and isolate infected patients as early as possible.
The civic body has also decided to ask private hospitals to increase bed capacity for treatment of Covid-19 patients. This is in addition to the 1,683 beds available in civic and government hospitals in the city.
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Action taken against local residents for not using masks in public places is being intensified, along with steps to ensure social distancing is followed in public places and in government and private establishments across the city.
The PMC is also taking efforts to increase Covid-19 vaccination rate, which is currently on for healthcare workers and frontline workers. The PMC has put the responsibility on the heads of establishments to ensure their staff on frontline duties get vaccinated.
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Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in:
Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps.
Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra.
Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development.
Investigative and Policy Impact:
National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism.
Additional Interests
Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues.
Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More
