Kangra leads in Himachal, making containment zone information public using Google Maps: DC

Dharamshala: After offering e-pass services, Kangra District Administration has once again come forward with an objective to easily disseminate information regarding COVID-19 in general public. District Administration Kangra has started using online technological tools. District Administration has mapped all the containment zones relating to COVID-19 on Google Maps and hosted the information on the District website on the link http://hpkangra.nic.in. Kangra district has become the first district in HP to host information of containment zones in public domain in easily accessible format so that the general public is aware of the area and duration of containment zones.
About various steps being taken by Kangra Administration to provide relief to people at hand, Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati says, “The containment zone strategy is an important and time-tested strategy for limiting the spread of epidemics like COVID-19 and this approach is going to stay in vogue for a while. Bringing transparency regarding the ever-changing scenario of containment zones will keep the public notified regarding the administrative measures and restrictions for containment of COVID-19”.
He added that as per the Guidelines of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, any area where COVID-19 positive cases are detected has to be designated as "containment zone". The area of containment zone is sealed off completely and no movement is allowed except maintenance of essential services and medical emergencies. No construction activities are also allowed within the containment zones. The Health Department conducts active case finding and screening (ACF exercise) of the population residing in the containment zones to prevent the community spread of COVID-19. Containment zones are usually notified for a period of two weeks or until the ACF exercise is completed by the Health Department as per need.
 In District Kangra, there are currently 6 active containment zones and 3 previous containment zones stand de-notified once the spread of COVID-19 was contained therein. Kangra district has become the first district in HP to host information of containment zones in public domain in easily accessible format so that the general public is aware of the area and duration of containment zones.
ADC Raghav Sharma said, “Various administrative orders regarding new containment zones are being passed but it becomes hard for a common man to cull out the relevant information from plethora of orders. Online tools which are easily accessible in public domain become relevant for dissemination of correct information to the public at large”.
 In the map being shared with the public on the website of District Administration, active containment zones are shown with red color icons while previous containment zones where infection has already been contained and no new cases have been reported are shown in green color. The entire information of containment zone including the location and time-period of containment gets displayed by clicking the coloured icon. As and when more containment zones are notified the information will be updated and shared with the public immediately.
Efforts are now being made by the District Administration Kangra to make this information more meaningful by linking it with exact administrative boundaries of containment zones and buffer zones will also be depicted in due course.