Covid-19 In Nagpur: A Peri-urban Case Study On Policy Response, Testing Patterns, And Administrative Challenges

Abstract

This Study Analyzes The Public Health Response To COVID-19 And The Administrative Experiences Of Public Servants In Nagpur, Maharashtra, With A Focus On The Peri-urban Hingna Tahsil. Conducted During April 2021, The Study Combines Retrospective Data (May–November 2020) And Field-based Insights To Assess Government Interventions During The First And Second Pandemic Waves. It Explores Spatial Dynamics, Testing Trends, And The Effectiveness Of Containment And Food Security Measures. Data From Over 35,000 RT-PCR Tests Were Analyzed To Understand Age-wise, Gender-wise, And Zonal Distribution Of Cases. The Results Show A Sharp Escalation In Cases During April 2020 And Peak Testing Volumes In September. The 21–60 Age Group Exhibited The Highest Infection And Testing Rates, Particularly Among Males. Urban Containment Zones Like Lakshmi Nagar And Mangalwari Led In Testing Coverage, Indicating Effective But Uneven Healthcare Access. Government Officials Reported Logistical Challenges In Enforcing Lockdowns, Maintaining Food Supply Chains, And Managing Migration. However, Innovative Responses Like Drone Surveillance And Decentralized Food Distribution Were Appreciated. The Study Highlights Gaps In Urban-rural Coordination And Provides Policy Recommendations For Future Pandemic Preparedness And Food System Resilience.

Keywords