16 July,2021 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Prajakta Kasale
A significant rise in sealed buildings has been seen in Dadar which comes under the G North ward. File pic
The number of containment zones (CZ) and sealed buildings in the city has increased for the first time amid the receding second COVID-19 wave. Within three days, the number of CZs increased from five to eight and sealed buildings rose from 68 to 75 in the city.
As per protocol, BMC seals buildings and announces a CZ if an area reports a cluster of active cases. In April, at the peak of the second wave, 777 buildings and one or more floors of 9,994 buildings were sealed. The number has been declining since then and until four days back, there were 68 sealed buildings and 1,998 buildings with sealed floors across the city.
An upscale building at Altamount Road has been sealed after six cases were found in the same wing of the society, four days back. But this is not the only case. At least 15 buildings have been sealed in the last three days and nine have been released after the completion of 14 days. The city reported more than 600 cases on Wednesday. The increase in sealed buildings and CZs comes even as active cases remain below 7,000.
A prominent rise is seen in G North ward where the number of sealed buildings increased from four to 10 within three days. "More than five cases were reported from these buildings that's why they are sealed in the last three days. Sometimes, cases come up after a testing camp is conducted in a particular area or building and hence a cluster of cases may appear," said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of G North ward comprising Dadar, Mahim and Dharavi. Currently, there are 141 active cases in Dadar, 65 in Mahim and 26 in Dharavi.
Simultaneously, M East ward comprising Deonar, Mankhurd area, saw five buildings getting sealed and one CZ being created since Monday.
On July 10, there were three CZs in S ward (Bhandup) and two CZs in K East ward (Andheri East, Vile Parle East and Jogeshwari East). On July 13, one CZ was added in K East, M East ward and H West ward (Bandra West to Santacruz West). Simultaneously, sealed buildings declined from 27 to 20 in K West ward (Jogeshwari West to Vile Parle West), the number increased from four to 10 in G North, and five buildings were sealed in M East ward. E ward (Byculla) sealed four more buildings.
