Union Health Ministry Alters Color Coding Of COVID-19 Hotspots, Districts Can Become ‘Green Zone’ In 21 Days

New Delhi: Three days before the coronavirus induced lockdown 2.0 is due to end on May 3, the Union Health Ministry has released a revised list of districts classified under red zone, orange zone and green zone.

In a letter to chief secretaries of all states and union territories dated April 30, Preeti Sudan, Union Health Secretary also shared the revised criteria for declaring a district as either ‘red’, or ‘orange’ or ‘green’ zone.

Union Health Secry Preeti Sudan writes to Chief Secys of all states/UTs, designating dists across all states/UTs as Red, Orange & Green Zones.

Since recovery rates have gone up, distritcs are now being designated across various zones duly broad-basing the criteria: Preeti Sudan pic.twitter.com/WjVZPJXl5q

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2020

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A district will be considered under a green zone, if there are no confirmed cases so far or there is no reported case since last 21 days in the district. Earlier, an infection-free period of 28 days was required to re-classify a district from red – an area with over 15 COVID-19 cases – green – an area with no new cases.

Explaining the reason behind the change in criteria, Ms Sudan wrote,

The districts were earlier designated as hotspots/red zones, orange zones or green zones primarily based on the cumulative cases reported and the doubling rate. Since recovery rates have gone up, the districts are now being designated across various zones duly broad-basing the criteria. This classification is multi factorial and takes into consideration incidence of cases, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance feedback to classify the districts.

Also Read: Coronavirus Outbreak Explained: Centre Tags 170 Districts As ‘Coronavirus Hotspots’, Here’s All You Need To Know

As per the updated list, 130 districts are in the red zone, 284 in orange zone and 319 in green zone. According to the updated list of districts belonging to different zones, five states including the national capital have 10 or more districts in red zone. Uttar Pradesh has maximum number of districts in red zone – 19, Maharashtra with 10,498 COVID-19 cases, highest for any state has 14 districts in red zone, followed by Tamil Nadu (12), Delhi (11) and West Bengal having 10 districts under red zone.

North eastern states like Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam, Sikkim, have zero district in red zones and maximum in green zones. Assam alone has 30 districts in green zone that is coronavirus free zone.

Also Read: Sikkim Has Reported Zero Positive Cases Of Coronavirus, Chief Minister Explains How

The letter further noted that the current list is a dynamic list and will be revised on a weekly basis or earlier and communicated to states for further follow-up action in consonance with the directions issued by Ministry of Home Affairs under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It also stated that based on field feedback and additional analysis at the state level, states may designate additional red or orange zones as appropriate.

Also, for the districts having one or more municipal corporations, the corporations and other areas of districts may be treated as separate units.

Stressing on breaking the chain of transmission, Ms Sudan in her letter said,

It is critical to ensure that necessary action for containment is taken so as to break the chain of transmission of virus is initiated in both red and orange zone districts reporting confirmed cases.

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