Members of more than 6000 families staying in Hindpiri alone were screened for Coronavirus by Saturday afternoon, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray said. The inspection was carried out on Saturday after initial resistance by locals and alleged misbehaviour meted out to some health workers on Thursday, sources said.
"We did not face any resistance from the locals today (Saturday). Members of more than 6000 families living in the area have already been screened," Ray said. He, however, did not comment on the findings from the area.
Hindpiri is located at a stone's throw from the Mahatma Gandhi Road of the State Capital –one of the oldest stretches connecting different parts of the city. The first COVID-19 case of Jharkhand, a Malaysian woman, was reported from this locality. The administration wanted to check every person who may have knowingly or unknowingly came in direct contact with the woman since the day she tested positive.
However, on Thursday, some locals resisted the entry of health workers in their houses, suspecting that the data collected from the locality will eventually be used for the National Register of Citizens (NPR) – an idea of the union Government that drew wide criticism from members of a particular community. The Anjuman Islamia committee had to intervene and convince the locals, mostly illiterate people of a particular community, to get tested for COVID-19, sources said.
The 22-year-old Malaysian woman, who happens to be the only positive COVID-19 of capital Ranchi, was apprehended along with 16 other foreign nationals from a mosque in Hindpiri on March 31. She had returned from the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi by Rajdhani Express on March 16. The woman's test report brought the entire locality under scanner. However, some locals still resisted medical examinations claiming that the woman was asymptomatic, and only one particular community was being targeted in garb of the testings.
Meanwhile, the lockdown on Saturday was followed strictly across the State capital. A press communique from the district administration said that people were readily using the facilities provided by the Government during the lockdown. "More than 300 calls were made to a helpline number for senior citizens since the lockdown was enforced. Through the helpline number, many senior citizens sought help in getting edibles, LPG cylinders and even medicines and mobile phones," said Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray.
One of the callers, he said, had broken his leg and was in need of medical help. Responding to his complaint, a team of the district administration took him to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and provided medical assistance, added Ray. The district administration runs helpline numbers for senior citizens, mental health assistance and delivery of edibles and grocery.
The helpline number for senior citizens received around 300 calls and 95 per cent of the complaints were addressed, said Ray, adding that the administration was paying special attention to those senior citizens who stay alone in Ranchi and do not have younger family members to help them out during this crisis. Cops patrolled the streets of Ranchi on Saturday and ensured the people stay indoors.
However, commoners were allowed to move out till 10am for buying vegetables, ration and other edibles. Most areas of the city wore a deserted look during the day.