As per the records of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the number of micro containment zones in the city has recorded a drop in the past few days but what continues to worry civic body officials is an overwhelming number of citizens who are visiting the civic body run clinics for Covid-related purposes, which has most certainly impacted the other health services of the KMC.

The data shared by the civic body points to a drop in the number of containment zones from 44 to 33 now. A considerable number of Covid cases feature in areas under Beliaghata Police Station. Covid cases were registered at several addresses at Suren Sarkar Road, Beliaghata Main Road and Ram Krishna Naskar Lane. Phoolbagan, which was leading with the most number of cases, has now seen a drop but South Kolkata’s ward 93 has now taken the lead. Covid cases exist in at least four to five addresses in this ward that spreads over the Lake Gardens and Jodhpur Park area mainly.

Additionally, areas under Haridevpur Police Station has also seen a spurt with cases mostly traced in residential complexes. The KMC data indicates that most cases in Haridevpur were recorded in ‘Genexx Valley’ located at Diamond Harbour Road, Joka. In New Alipore, Blocks O, B and G have registered several Covid cases with a health official commenting that being a posh area, many of the affected in New Alipore have travel history.

However, civic body health officials say that despite a drop in the number of containment zones, the KMC’s primary health centres are attracting a large number of patients suffering from Covid related symptoms and hence the patients with other ailments are being neglected due to shortage of staff.

A health official said that the civic body is planning to set up more satellite primary health centres to handle the pressure. As per KMC officials, the test positivity rate has decreased within the KMC area but at the same time, more than two health centres of KMC have reported that they had to stop the Covid testing facility due to staff crunch. In the wake of low testing, health experts have questioned the claim of Covid positivity rates seeing a drop.