bengaluru for the first time in six months the city has become free of covid19 containment zones with the last one in mahadevapura declared covidfree on friday bruhat bengaluru mahanagara palike sources revealed to stoi this is the first time the city has recorded zero containment zones after the state governments revised guidelines in march declaring places with more than 35 cases as containment zones bbmp chief health officer dr as balasundar said of late the city has not been reporting more than three cases in one place hence the number of containment zones has reduced to zero also coordinated efforts of officials and field staff in testing meticulous tracking and surveillance have helpedin march the state government announced that any place schools colleges housing colonies office spaces and so on with more than 35 cases will be declared a containment zone after a lull covid cases shot up with the outbreak of omicron resulting in an uptick in containment zones in bengaluru at one point bbmp reported over 200 containment zones with mahadevapura a tech corridor witnessing the highest number until a few weeks ago the locality had close to 15 active containment zones scaling down covid ops with zero containment zones now bbmp has begun scaling down covid operations though senior officials clarified this wont mean the city will drop its guard against covid19 we will continue random testing for surveillance and hospitals will be on high alert with dedicated beds to treat patients however we will withdraw contract field staff such as swab collectors and others by relieving them of covid duty all such operations will be managed by existing bbmp health staffers balasundar explained according to health officials the centre cautioned the state a few days ago about a probable surge in cases considering the festive season as festivities bring people closer from diverse backgrounds there are chances of infections increasing the centre has instructed us to keep an eye on the positivity rate and put in place safety protocols however the situation across bengaluru is under control another bbmp health official said