Tripura sees sudden spike in cases, days after CM declares state coronavirus-free

Days after Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb declared Tripura COVID 19-free, the state witnessed an abrupt spike in coronavirus cases with over 130 people testing positive for the disease in just one week since May 2.

All the new cases are from two battalions of the BSF in Dhalai district.

The first two patients in the state -- a woman from Gomati district and a TSR jawan in north Tripura -- had recovered from the disease in April.

After taking into account the fresh cases, the state government declared Dhalai district as a red zone and marked five locations -- two battalion headquarters, a base camp at Gandacherra, a border outpost with Bangladesh at Kareena and Kamalpur town -- as containment zones.

Expressing concern, Additional Chief Secretary (health) SK Rakesh said, "The numbers have increased all of a sudden. We are hoping that the virus will not spread further as it has been contained within the BSF battalion's headquarters. However, we are ready to deal with any situation. Currently, the government is upgrading the facilities at GB Pant Hospital."
Red zone protocol will be followed in Dhalai. Civilians and vehicles won't be allowed to move unless necessary. Only essential services will be available."