COVID-19: Here's why it is open season in sealed zones

The COVID19 pandemic is nowhere close to ending and according to BMCs data the citys slums still have hundreds of Containment Zones which have a set of strict guidelines including restriction on peoples movement However in reality residents in most of these CZs have gone back to business as usual Shops havereopened stalls are back on streets and people are out shopping againAround midMay there were 2000 Containment Zones CZs in the slum pockets of the city but the civic body combined multiple CZs for better management and the number reduced to 692 By the end of May with a few more additions there were 726 CZs in the slums And three months on merely 182 have been unsealedPeople out on the streets in Worli Koliwada the first area to be sealed in the city on Friday Daily activities here started long ago Pic Ashish RajeAs of now nearly 378 lakh people are currently living in 544 CZs in the slums across the city each managed by the respective ward offices Many of these like one in Malad saw stricter restrictions and more police force after the city started reopening in early June All activities were suspended in areas like Kokani Pada Tanaji Nagar Shivaji Nagar Kranti Nagar Appa Pada Pimpri Pada on the east side of the Western Express Highway This area is densely populated with a population of over 2 lakhAll shops have reopenedIn the second week of July everything was closed including the grocery shops and there were police officers everywhere But now all shops have reopened and there is no restriction on any activity How can people stay inside small houses without any employment asked Vidya Kambli resident of Kurar village in Malad EastSanjog Kabre assistant municipal commissioner of P North told midday We have withdrawn some restrictions as the number of COVID19 cases has reduced The corporation has allowed shops on bigger roads to reopen but those inside small lanes have to remain closed The restrictions are imposed for the wellbeing of the peopleThe situation is the same in Worli Koliwada the first area to be sealed in the city While BMC record says it is still a CZ all daily activities started long ago and people frequently venture out Sharad Ughade the assistant municipal commissioner of G South ward was unavailable for commentMore vendors on street nowLife in the densely populated areas like Govandi Shivaji Nagar Mankhurd also seem to have returned to normal There are boards reading Containment Zone in front of many lanes in Shivaji Nagar but everyone is defying the rules There are fewer cases now but the fact is no one is going for testing as they fear losing their wages said Mumtaj Sheikh activist and resident of Mankhurd Vendors are back on the roads and the number of vegetable sellers has also increased she addedNo ones seriousAndheri and Vile Parle West where the BMC had sealed seven slums in May and flattened the curve in June still have 20 CZs but there are no restrictions No one is following the rules set for CZs seriously The corporation unsealed some of the CZs when the number of patients reduced and put up a board stating that they will be sealed again if the cases are found in future But neither the residents nor the BMC seem serious said Prasad Aayre resident of Andheri Vishwas Mote assistant commissioner of K west said We unseal the CZs if there isnt any case for 14 consecutive days Thats the norm There are only a few CZs in the ward nowPeople stand outside a shop without maintaining a safe physical distance at Nehru Nagar Vile Parle on Friday Pic Pradeep DhivarA BMC official on condition of anonymity told midday that they are aware about the relaxations in the CZs but they have allowed people to go out if there isnt a spike in cases within the area because no one wants to stay indoors anymore People want to go back to work earn some money We ensure there isnt a violation of physical distancing he addedProject MAITRI to track patients healthThe BMC along with NGO Project Mumbai has started Project MAITRI to track the health of COVID19 patients quarantining at home Healthcare workers will call homeisolated patients for followup and take the health status of the patients and their family members The patients and family members can contact mental health counsellors on 180010240403 and speak to them whenever needed They will focus on highrisk patients with comorbidities or those aged above 55 years BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal said The learning and insights from this initiative over the next three months will be shared with other cities and district administrationsKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news