PIMPRI: In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has announced the closure of its doors to visitors. 

The civic body has said that people should avoid visiting government or semi-government offices in the city as a measure to contain the spread of the virus. 

In case of urgent matters, people have been asked to seek prior permission of the respective officers for visiting the offices. People have been advised to instead communicate to the officers via letters, messages or emails. The PCMC commissioner can be contacted on commissioner@pcmcindia.gov.in

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar has appealed to all people having symptoms of cold and cough to isolate themselves and rest at home until full recovery.

He also appealed to immediately consult doctors in case of cold and cough and use handkerchiefs while sneezing or coughing and to wash hands repeatedly.

After a few persons tested positive for COVID-19, the civic body has swung into operation to contain spread of the virus. Accordingly, isolation wards have been kept ready at the PCMC’s Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital and Bhosari Hospital as well as at seven private hospitals in the city.

As a part of the public awareness campaign, the civic body has put up flex boards at 164 sites in the city and distributed 1.5 lakh pamphlets and 5,000 stickers.

Workshops for various associations of medical practitioners, including the Indian Medical Association(IMA), have also been conducted.

The PCMC has formed 37 rapid action squads to conduct searches to locate COVID-19 patients. Media persons are daily briefed about development related to the prevention of the spread of the disease.

Since last few days, the civic body has been collecting a fine of Rs 150 from persons who are found spitting in public spaces.