A ground report from Agra.
The city was initially celebrated for its coronavirus containment plan.
Then, cases spiked, bringing its strategy under close scrutiny.
To understand exactly what happened, we went there.
Our piece. Thread below.
in.reuters.com/article/health…
The city was initially celebrated for its coronavirus containment plan.
Then, cases spiked, bringing its strategy under close scrutiny.
To understand exactly what happened, we went there.
Our piece. Thread below.
in.reuters.com/article/health…
When we got there late last month, the city seemed completely locked down.
With more than 100 checkpoints, thousands of police were deployed.
Loudspeakers at traffic signals asked people to stay in.
It was all being monitored from this control room.
With more than 100 checkpoints, thousands of police were deployed.
Loudspeakers at traffic signals asked people to stay in.
It was all being monitored from this control room.
Agra, a leather hub, reported its first case on March 03 after a 44-year old shoe businessman returned from a trip to Italy.
Incidentally, he came back just a day after Donald Trump and his entourage visited the Taj Mahal.
The case sent the local administration scrambling.
Incidentally, he came back just a day after Donald Trump and his entourage visited the Taj Mahal.
The case sent the local administration scrambling.
Agra's initial strategy seemed to work.
Officials identified epicenters of infection clusters, set up containment zones, screened hundreds of thousands of residents and conducted widespread contact tracing.
(Below, @adnanabidi at work)
Officials identified epicenters of infection clusters, set up containment zones, screened hundreds of thousands of residents and conducted widespread contact tracing.
(Below, @adnanabidi at work)
Also some jugaad.
WHO vaccination “microplans” developed for polio control were used alongside Google Maps to screen areas for COVID-19.
Early on, nearly 3,000 workers screened some 165,000 households, partly using this technique.
(Below, some locals roped in as volunteers)
WHO vaccination “microplans” developed for polio control were used alongside Google Maps to screen areas for COVID-19.
Early on, nearly 3,000 workers screened some 165,000 households, partly using this technique.
(Below, some locals roped in as volunteers)
By early April, the city thought it had the virus beat, containing cases to under 50.
Then, the virus roared back.
First, were a rash of cases linked to the #tabligijamaat gathering in Delhi.
In all, 104 people linked to the group tested +ve.
(Below, spraying disinfectant)
Then, the virus roared back.
First, were a rash of cases linked to the #tabligijamaat gathering in Delhi.
In all, 104 people linked to the group tested +ve.
(Below, spraying disinfectant)
In early April, a patient linked to the Tablighi group showed up at Paras hospital and later tested positive for COVID-19.
That set off a chain of infections, totaling at least 92 cases at just one hospital.
Separately, other hospitals were also hit.
That set off a chain of infections, totaling at least 92 cases at just one hospital.
Separately, other hospitals were also hit.
As cases grew, Agra tweaked its containment strategy.
Authorities sealed off infection hotspots – typically groups of houses or parts of a street - and cordoned off adjoining neighbourhoods holding as many as 10,000 people.
(Below, a hotspot)
Authorities sealed off infection hotspots – typically groups of houses or parts of a street - and cordoned off adjoining neighbourhoods holding as many as 10,000 people.
(Below, a hotspot)
With cases still rising, it's going to be a tough fight for Agra, like many other cities.
District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh is banking on extensive contract tracing and strict containment to make it through.
“The good part is that for all the cases, we know the source."
District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh is banking on extensive contract tracing and strict containment to make it through.
“The good part is that for all the cases, we know the source."
To end, Agra’s experience offers lessons for cities in India and elsewhere.
The virus can make a comeback even after a swift lockdown and elaborate containment measures.
And in crowded residential areas, like it Agra and elsewhere, it will remain difficult to eradicate.
The virus can make a comeback even after a swift lockdown and elaborate containment measures.
And in crowded residential areas, like it Agra and elsewhere, it will remain difficult to eradicate.
