Within five days of detection of ten COVID-19 positive cases on the campus, the Madhya Pradesh governor house has been declared a 'containment free' zone.
A state government communique said that the Raj Bhavan was declared ‘containment free’ as all the 10 positive persons have been shifted to hospitals for treatment and all members of their families have been shifted to quarantine centres.
Principal secretary to the governor Manohar Dubey said that all other 385 persons out of 395 tested on the Raj Bhavan campus have come out negative.
Normally, a containment zone is de-sealed only after no new cases are reported from there for 14 days.
The declaration of Raj Bhavan as 'containment free' within five days is thus raising eyebrows and it is being connected to the speculation that the oath taking ceremony of expanded cabinet of Shivraj Singh Chouhan is likely to take place soon.
The Congress has taken a dig at the government over the development. Party spokesman K.K. Mishra said that such a decision shows that the state government is hardly worried about the health and well being of the governor. Bhopal district collector Tarun Pithode could not be contacted for comments.
Dubey, in his statement, however mentioned that strict restrictions are still on as far as entry to the Raj Bhavan and meeting Governor Lalji Tandon is concerned.
He informed that no person without permission will be allowed to visit the governor house area. Separate thermal scanning arrangements have been made at the entrance of the Raj Bhavan and at the entrance of Lal Kothi—the personal residential and office area of the governor. Details of thermal scanning report of each person are being compiled. Sanitisation is mandatory at all contact locations. Declaration is taken from every visitor that he/she has no symptoms of cold and cough, fever and so on.
Visitors are allowed to enter only after taking all precautions and following protocols such as maintaining two yards distance, with masks and shoe covers on, personal sanitization and thermal screening etc. Arrangements have been made to put up the employees on personal duty of the governor in the Lal Kothi inner zone. Only employees who have tested COVID-19 negative have been put on such duty and allowed to stay in this inner zone. They also have to follow the safety and preventive protocols.
