Nipah: More containment zones declared in Kozhikode, 703 on contact list

Kozhikode: The Kozhikode administration has strengthened measures to prevent the spread of Nipah infection after the brain-damaging virus killed two people and infected two others in the district. It is leaving no stones unturned to ensure that the spread of the possible virus is strictly contained. 

At present, 702 people are considered to have been on the contact list of the infected. Of this, 371 came into contact with the first deceased patient Muhamad Ali, 281 with the deceased Harris, and 50 with those undergoing treatment. 

Considering the serious nature of the disease, the administration has declared additional containment zones in addition to the ones announced earlier. The 3,4,5 wards of Villiappally and the 13th ward of Purameri panchayath have been cordoned as containment zones.

Earlier, the 6 and 7 wards of Villiappally were included in the containment zone list. As of now, eight panchayats in the district have been declared to be containment zones. 

The containment zones are as follows:

Ayancheri panchayath- Wards 1,2,3,4,5,12,13,14,15

Maruthonkara panchayath- Wards 1,2,3,4,5,12,13,14

Thiruvallur panchayath- Wards 1, 2, 20

Kuttiadi panchayat- Wards 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

Kayakkody panchayath- Wards 5,6,7,8,9

Kavilumpara panchayath- Wards 2,10,11,12,13,14,15,16

Villiappally panchayath- Wards 3,4,5,6,7

Purameri panchayath- Ward 13

No travel in or out of these containment zones will be allowed till further notice. The police have been asked to cordon off these areas.

Only stores selling essential commodities and medical supplies will be allowed to function.

Stores selling essential goods will be allowed to function from 7 am to 5 pm. No time bar has been given for pharmacies and health centres.

Local self-government institutions and village offices can function with minimum staff. Banks, other government or quasi-government institutions, educational institutions, and Anganwadis should not operate, the District collector said in a Facebook post.

The public should use online services and avoid going to local self-government institutions, she said. Buses or vehicles plying on national highways through the containment zones should not stop in the affected areas.

Directions regarding this should be issued by the regional transport officer and district transport officer. All should maintain social distancing and use masks and sanitizer in the containment zones, the post said.