Informal settlements within cities have been identified by the Union Health Ministry as among the vulnerable urban settlements for the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Stating that a substantial percentage of the population here are migrant workers employed in industrial and other informal sectors, the Ministry said these areas are characterised by poor structural quality of housing, inadequate access to safe water, poor sanitation and insecure residential status. There are gaps in health and healthcare services.
“In the context of COVID [or any other respiratory infectious disease for that matter] implementing strategic interventions such as surveillance, physical distancing, isolation, quarantine and communicating the risk to the dwellers could be challenging,’’ notes the Ministry.
In a note — Preparedness and response to COVID-19 in Urban Settlements — issued on Saturday evening, the Ministry notes that these localities are often overcrowded, with many people crammed into very small living spaces.
It said in these areas local bodies should cover the management of COVID-19 and focus on challenges unique to such