COVID-19 Task Force dissolves

The Covid-19 Task Force, a temporary task force setup in March 2020 by the Working Committee to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, has dissolved as the current situation in South India can no longer be considered as a medical emergency. Covid now is treated as any other medical condition. The various aspects of its work have been taken over by the Working Committee (correspondence and contacts with the authorities); Santé (all medical issues); and the Auroville food and grocery providers for home deliveries. 

In its extensive report for the community, the Task Force recalled that its primary task was 'prevention' measures and the creation of 'awareness', followed by the organization of testing. A Covid bulletin was started to inform all in Auroville about the instructions and guidelines issued by the Central, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry governments. About 160 people got tested for reasons such as having symptoms or being a primary contact of someone with Covid. Until January 15th, only 18 people had tested positive in Auroville, while around 300 people have been quarantined for reasons such as having travelled domestically or internationally, or having had contact with positive patients. 

Among the main achievements of the Task Force is the setting up of a temporary government Screening Center at Santé, following a directive of the district administration; creating a quarantine facility for Covid negative persons at the Tibetan Pavilion; and setting up an Isolation Centre for Covid-19 asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients at Sharanam, a building in Bharat Nivas complex. The Task Force also organized support for the patients staying there, such as arranging for their health checkups, medications, food delivery (breakfast, lunch & dinner), and setting up protocols regarding how food and supplies would be delivered without cross contamination. 

A volunteer-based system was set up for delivering groceries and cooked food for people in quarantine and vulnerable categories. This assistance is still ongoing. An online platform for ordering groceries from PTDC, PTPS and HERS was set up for the community members to use with the help of the 'Taalam' team. Many volunteers came forward to help in coordinating orders, making up baskets and doing deliveries. This service was further extended for delivery of medicines for orders placed at the Auroville pharmacy.

Liaison with government authorities at all levels (central, state and local) was another main focus of the Task Force. In collaboration with the Working Committee, close contact was maintained with district and state government officials, including the District Collector, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary, the Vanur Block Medical Officer and the Kottakuppam Deputy Superintendent of Police, to understand and interpret the various government guidelines and to report on various pending matters.

The Task Force warns that the pandemic is still very active and that Aurovilians have to learn to live with it by following the relevant precautions. The Task Force advises that Auroville should progress towards being a 'disaster-prepared community' by constituting a virtual 'disaster management group' that can be activated and called upon during any disaster and emergency situation, be it natural (physical) or medical emergencies. This group should have people with diverse experience such as (but not limited to) disaster management, medical/healthcare, finance, communications, volunteer management, with additional members as reserve and standby. The Task Force also advises to continue giving strict attention to the practice of proper hygiene in the environments in which Aurovilians interact, and to scale up Auroville's current hygiene programme in terms of human resources and the service provided.