SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Jalandhar, Pathankot Covid-hotspot districts in Punjab

New Delhi, April 15

SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Jalandhar and Pathankot in Punjab have been identified as Covid-19 hotspot districts by Union Health Ministry.

These are among 170 districts declared as COVID-19 hotspots. As many as 207 districts have been declared as non-hotspots, officials said on Wednesday, reiterating that there has been no community transmission of the disease in the country so far.

In Haryana, four districts have been named as Covid hotspots. These are Nuh, Gurugram, Palwal and Faridabad.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, Bandipora, Baramulla, Jammu, Udhampur and Kupwara have been identified as hotspot districts.

Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health Lav Agarwal said states have been asked to classify districts witnessing higher number of cases as hotspots, districts where some cases have been found as non-hotspots, and those which have reported no cases as green zones.

Hotspots are those districts which are reporting more number of cases or where the rate of growth of COVID-19 cases is high, Agarwal said, adding a detailed direction has been issued to states stating consolidated efforts are required to utilise this period of lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.

“As per data till yesterday, 170 districts have been classified as hotspot districts. Non-hotspot districts where cases have been reported are 207 in number,” Agarwal said.

“Cluster containment plan needs to be implemented in those 207 non-hotspots as they can develop as potential hotspots,” the official said. Agencies