The Delhi government announced a colour-coded action plan on 15th August. This system will divide the levels of restrictions in markets, industries, offices, and public transport determining upon the COVID-19 positive rates, new cases, and occupancy of oxygen beds in hospitals and healthcare clinics.
What Do We Need for the Colour-coded Action Plan?
In the absence of a clear policy, the government has announced several restrictions only after major surges in COVID cases. During the second wave, the government only announced a lockdown after there were over 20000 cases registered daily.
The colour-coded action plan or the Graded Response Action Plan will negate the administrative delays in announcing a crisis like the one seen during the second wave.
What is The Colour-coded Action Plan?
The GRAP states that the restrictions in the city will be based on three main parameters:
- Test Positivity Rate (TPR)
- Cumulative New Positive Cases
- Oxygen Bed Occupancy in Hospitals
YELLOW Alert
This alert will be triggered when the TPR will remain over 0.5 for two days. The cumulative new positive cases will touch 1500 for a duration of one week and the average bed occupancy in hospitals will remain 500 for a week.
During the alert, restrictions like cinemas, auditoriums, spas, gyms, and entertainment parks will be shut. There will be a complete ban on any social, entertainment, religious, or political gatherings. Sports complexes except for any national or international sports events will also be shut down.
The restrictions for shops and markets and malls dealing with non-essential items are allowed to open from 10 am-8 pm. Restaurants can function at 50% capacity, the same with buses and metros. During this restriction, there will be a complete night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am.
Only places like public parks, gardens, construction activities, e-commerce, salons, and beauty parlors are allowed to fully function during the yellow alert.
AMBER Alert
The city enters the next phase of restrictions with the TPR at 1 for more than two days, new cases reported remain at or above 3500 for a week, and the average oxygen bed occupancy remains at 700 for a week.
Besides the restrictions already active under the Yellow alert, restaurants and bars will close with only delivery as an option. The timings of all markets and shops will be reduced by two hours with the consistent night curfew. Metros and busses are allowed to function at 33% capacity and offices are to be shut.
The only activities allowed during the amber alert are construction activities, manufacturing activities, and e-commerce.
ORANGE Alert
Stricter restrictions than amber, orange is kicked in when the TPR remains at 2 for more than two days, the number of new cases rises at 9000 and stays there for over a week, and the average occupancy of oxygen beds remains at 1000 or more for more than seven days.
Under these restrictions, the metro, malls, and market will close. Only shops dealing with essential goods like groceries, milk booths, and pharmacists will function. The buses are still permitted to function at 50% capacity with only passengers engaged in essential services or activities. All other activities that do not associate with essential items or medicine will be immediately halted. All private offices remain closed and only government offices will remain functional. Night and weekend curfews will be put into action.
RED Alert
If the TPR crosses 5 for more than two days in a row, the city records 16000 new cases in a week, and the average hospital bed occupancy for oxygen remains at or above 3000 for a week, the city will go into RED alert.
The city will remain under lockdown since the orange alert, but with the RED alert in action, the restrictions will be mainly on the movement of people and vehicles. Moreover, there will be a complete curfew with no actions.
Additional restrictions
A maximum of 20 people can take part in any event under yellow and amber alerts, 15 people in case of orange and red alerts.
Should West Bengal Follow The Same Path?
Covid Doctors in Kolkata suggest that precautions should be taken in Kolkata irrespective of the number of cases reported every day. In terms of the colour-coded system implemented in Delhi, Kolkata is just as populated and susceptible to the third wave of covid without warning. The colour-coded system will allow the administration to convey the restrictions without any delays, alerting people to be careful. The restrictions could also provide the right circumstances to ensure a shorter span for the third wave. With the festive season approaching, Kolkata will become an active city with several expected large gatherings and crowds. The colour-coded system will help control the flow of the crowd and movement of people during the next few months and prevent a catastrophic third wave.
Dr. Amitabha Saha is one of the best medicine doctor in Kolata providing the most efficient treatment for COVID and several other major diseases.
NOTE: Always Wear a Mask, maintain social Distancing, and Consult a doctor in case of a fever or severe cough.