Stay Away From Quarantine Centres Appeal After 21 Surat Returnees Test Corona Positive In Ganjam

Berhampur: With 21 Surat returnees testing positive for coronavirus in Ganjam, the district administration on Thursday appealed to people to stay away from quarantine centres, where migrants are being kept after their return to the state.

“Only authorised person can have entry the quarantine centres/Temporary Medical Camps. Follow social distancing strictly,” the post on its official Twitter handle said.

Ganjam had reported its maiden case on May 2 when two Surat-returned youth tested positive for the virus. The following day, another Surat returnee was found to have contracted the infection. One more case was detected in Ganjam on Tuesday (May 5) and this 18-year-old youth had also returned from Surat recently.

Wednesday (May 6) saw the highest spike in new cases with 17 testing positive for the virus.

With around 5000 migrant workers having arrived in Ganjam alone, there is every possibility of more corona positive cases being detected in Odisha, whose affected tally now stands at 205.

According to official sources, around 3 lakh migrants have registered to return to Ganjam. There could be thousands of unregistered migrants who might be on their way back. The Odisha government on Monday  deputed five OAS officers to assist the district administration to handle the problems arising out of return of natives from other states.

The huge influx and bus accidents involving migrants also prompted the Odisha government to restrict their inter-state movement to trains.

Also Read: Migrants Headache: Bengal, Surat Returnees Behind Odisha’s Corona Spike!

The migrants have also carried the virus to two unaffected districts – Mayurbhanj (3) and Jagatsinghpur (4).

Cuttack also reported its second case after a gap of one month on May 5 and the person was also a Surat returnee.

Also Read: Corona Spread: 20 More Surat Returnees Test Positive In Odisha