Bhubaneswar: Chief spokesperson of the Odisha government on COVID-19 Subroto Bagchi on Tuesday informed that 1,239 persons had registered on the portal (https://covid19.odisha.gov.in) created for mandatory registration of those returning from abroad and subsequent self-quarantine, in the last 24 hours.
Among them, 554 and 685 have registered through call centres and COVID-19 portal respectively.
He said that those registered on the portal had travelled abroad on or before March 4 and are currently in Odisha.
Bagchi further said that 31 of 32 samples in Odisha had tested negative for coronavirus. The condition of the Italy-returned student, who was admitted to the isolation ward of the Capital Hospital here after testing positive for the virus, is stable now, he added.
He said that 546 isolation beds have been earmarked in government hospitals across the state and Rs 5 lakh has been sanctioned for setting up an isolation centre in each block and panchayat.
He also highlighted the ways to maintain hygiene. Stating that mobile phones are potent carriers of the killer virus, Bagchi said that these should be cleaned with sterilizing agents regularly. “As per data, an individual touches his/her mobile phone 2600 times in a day. And, people use mobile phone for about 76 times a day. So, the device should be cleaned with mild soap water for 5-6 times a day,” he said.
The spokesperson also stressed social distancing. Private hospitals have been told to create COVID19 corners and advised to restrict visitors to the hospitals, he said, adding that banks have been told to put hand sanitizers at ATMs.
On shutting down of malls, Bagchi clarified that food outlets, grocery and medicine stores, and those selling essential commodities will continue to remain open.
