“Covid-19 foot warriors Containment and Surveillance Teams” will be responsible for screening, alerting authorities about suspect cases, enforcing social distancing
New Delhi, April 14, 2020 (IANS) To fight the coronavirus pandemic on the ground level, the Delhi government has formed about 14,000 ‘coronavirus foot warrior‘ teams which will go from door-to door to check for cases and create awareness about the dreaded virus.
Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the teams will go from door-to door in every area, including the containment zones, and create awareness about the infection and isolate the potential cases.
Kejriwal said a lot of work is being given to the teams to ensure that awareness and preventive measures about the infection reach each household.
The “Corona foot warriors Containment and Surveillance Teams” — to be formed at booth levels — is “multi sectoral” and includes booth level officials, one civil defence volunteer, one Asha/Anganwadi worker, one MCD sanitation worker and one Delhi police beat constable — all residing or working in a particular area.
They are responsible for screening, alerting the authorities about suspect cases, taking them to medical facilities, enforcing social distancing and ensuring supply of essential items.
Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev had on Monday directed the District Magistrates to form the corona foot warriors’ teams to ensure the well-being of the locals. The order directed the DMs to form the teams immediately.
“The team members must be fit and healthy,” the order said.
It said the team members will make phone calls to various households in the area to ensure the well-being of their family members and regarding availability of all essential items.
“They shall also inquire with the concerned households whether they know of any suspect case in their neighborhood,” the order said.
The team members will have to make field visits to enforce social distancing in their respective areas, particularly JJ Clusters and unauthorised colonies to ensure compliance of government guidelines.
Also, the teams will play a crucial role in identifying the suspect cases, their transportation to isolation centres and disinfection of the area.
“Once a containment cluster is identified, the team should ensure that the containment plan made to manage the cluster is followed scrupulously,” the order said.
The team will have to submit a daily report at 6 p.m.
The order said that Sanjay Goel, a 2004 batch IAS officer, will be the overall coordinator for the teams and will report to the Principal Secretary (Revenue)-cum-Divisional Commissioner.
