The Centre on Friday designated 733 districts across all states and Union Territories into red, orange and green Zones. A total of 130 districts in the country are designated as red zones, 284 as orange zones and 319 as green zones.
In Karnataka, the Union government has identified three districts as red zones, 13 districts as orange zones, and 14 districts in the green zones. However, the Centre has clarified that this list is dynamic and will be revised according to future developments.
In districts deemed as red zones, the restrictions of lockdown will continue to apply and may not be lifted post May 3. Moreover, intra-district and inter-district travel will also be subjected to restrictions.
In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union territories, Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan noted that some states have raised issues on inclusion of certain districts in the red-zone list.
The criteria followed by the Union Ministry in classifying a district into one of the three zones -- red, orange and green – is different from the state’s. Initially the Centre identified a district as a red, orange or green zone based on the number of COVID-19 cases reported from there in total, and the doubling rate of the cases. However, over time, the number of recoveries in many states increased, and the Centre changed the criteria to include more factors like incidence of cases, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance feedback.
This list sent by the Centre is significantly different from that prepared by the Karnataka state COVID-19 War Room, and the latter’s classification of zones in the state.
Red zones:
Bengaulru Urban
Mysuru
Bengaluru Rural
Orange zones:
Belagavi
Kalaburagi
Vijayapaura
Bagalkote
Mandya
Bidar
Dakshina Kannada
Ballari
Chikkaballapura
Dharwad
Gadag
Tumakuru
Uttara Kannada
Green zones:
Davanagere
Chamarajanagar
Kodagu
Ramanagra
Hassan
Kolar
Chitradurga
Chikkamagaluru
Shivamogga
Haveri
Koppal
Raichur
Udupi
Yadgir
However, according to the Karnataka state government, the classification of red, orange and green zones is based on the following criteria. A red zone is one where there has been at least one COVID-19 case detected in the last 14 days. An orange zone is one where no cases have been reported in the last 14 days, but at least one in the last 15-28 days. A green zone is classified when the area has reported no COVID-19 cases in 28 days.
Red zones:
Bengalru Urban
Mysuru
Belagavi
Kalaburagi
Vijayapaura
Bagalkote
Mandya
Bidar
Dakshina Kannada
Ballari
Chikkaballapura
Dharwad
Gadag
Tumakuru
Davanagere
Orange zones:
Bengaluru Rural
Uttara Kannada
Udupi
Green zones:
Chamarajanagara
Kodagu
Ramanagra
Hassan
Kolar
Chitradurga
Chikkamagaluru
Shivamogga
Haveri
Koppal
Raichur
Yadgir