All six metros and other major cities marked in red zone on Centre's list

New Delhi : Centre has released a list of 170 hotspots that includes all six metro cities and several large cities. The list marked 123 districts as "large outbreaks" - which includes all nine districts of national capital Delhi. Mumbai, Kolkata, 9 districts of Bengaluru Urban, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur and Agra were among the areas marked hotspots also on the list. 

All the districts and hotspots which have contributed to more than 80 per cent of the cases in the nation have been put under the red zone. Places that show a high rate of infection - doubling rate less than 4 days - will also be in this category.

All six metros - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad - currently have a high number of cases.  

The Centre mentioned that 47 places have been marked as cluster outbreak, where the number of positive coronavirus cases comes in a cluster.

Other than this cities which have reported cases and can be potential hotspots have also been put on the list to ensure full containment of the virus.

For all the hotspots, the state governments have been tasked with ensuring that that the disease be contained. If no new outbreaks are reported within 28 days and all the existing patients recover, the area can be declared a green zone, the government has said.

For the marked red zones, there will be a planned way of conducting door-to-door surveys and tests. The tests will not just be for COVID-19. Patients of influenza-related illness and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness), will also be tested, since such patients have often tested positive for coronavirus.