At least three sanitation staffers of municipal corporations have tested positive for Covid-19 and another 48 asymptomatic staffers who came in contact with them have been placed under quarantine. Among three two staffers Sunita and Vinod work for South Corporation while Ishwar Singh is posted in Department of Environment Management Services (DEMS) of North Corporation.
The North Commissioner Varsha Joshi said the Corporation has sent 39 asymptomatic staff members in home quarantine by taking precautionary measures and also issued detail guidelines for sanitation staffs engaged for lifting of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).
The Commissioner said that Ishwar Singh, who was working in DEMS of north Corporation left the work place after feeling unwell and later he was tested positive of Covid-19. “His family members are being tested and all the staff came in his contact have been sent in home quarantine. We are in touch with his family and taking care everything till he is fully recovered,’ she added.
Vinod (55) who was posted in Bhogal beat of Daryaganj ward tested positive on Friday, a senior SDMC official said, adding that he was also suffering from liver related issues. “He was admitted in AIIMS on April 22 and put on ventilator. He had attended duty only two times this month on April 4 and 11 and was not deputed at any corona hot spot areas and disinfection work,” he said.
The official further said that Sunita, a resident of Mangolpuri, was posted in 6S ward in Tagore garden, found positive for Covid- 19. He also said that her husband’s test came negative on Thursday but he is called again on Friday at LNJP Hospital after his wife tested positive.
Soon after the matter came in light, the north Corporation issued detail guidelines for sanitation staff and concessionaires engaged for lifting of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) during prevailing Covid-19 crises
“All the sanitation staff has been directed to ensure that all the supervisors of the corporation will record the temperature of every employee through thermal screening device at the time of taking attendance of swachhta karamchries in each shift before allowing them to join duties,” it said.
A senior north corporation official said that sanitation workers were also directed to convey their supervisory staff to ensure sanititisation of hands before and after putting their thumb impression or signature on the attendance register.
The civic body has also asked its workers to equip themselves with ‘Personal Protective Equipments’ (PPEs) before embarking in the containment zones, the official said, adding that the PPE kits can be obtained by supervising sanitation Staff from the in charge of ‘Docking Centers’.