Bhubaneswar: Educational institutes seem to have become the epicentre of COVID-19 resurgence in Odisha. NIT-Rourkela, XIMB and some private schools in Bhubaneswar, some private institutions in Cuttack and a higher secondary school in Bhawanipatna have reported new cases with students and staff contracting the virus.
Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra on Tuesday attributed the surge in cases on campuses to students from outside the state. He said that more infections are being reported from Nuapada, Bargarh and Khurda districts. “The district collectors have been directed to conduct contact tracing of those infected and declare the areas as containment zones,” he added.
March 28 – Nupada: 36, Bargarh: 22, Khurda: 33
March 27: Nupada: 40, Bargarh: 15 , Khurda: 71
March 26: Nupada: 33, Bargarh: 24, Khurda 32
The areas bordering Chhattisgarh too are witnessing a surge in cases.
On Tuesday (March 29), Bargarh district recorded the highest of 34 fresh cases followed by Nuapada (29) and Sundargarh (26). Khurda reported 25 new cases.
Also Read: Odisha Logs Over 200 New COVID-19 Cases For 6th Straight Day
Mishra further said that the government is mulling to suspend bus services from Nuapada to Chhattisgarh to contain the spread of the virus from the neighbouring state.
On Monday, Chhattisgarh registered 1,423 new COVID-19 cases and 20 more deaths.
It assumes significance against the backdrop of reports that Odisha was contemplating removing Chhattisgarh from the list of returnees under home isolation restrictions imposed to check COVID-19 infection in Odisha.
At present, seven-day home isolation is mandatory for people arriving from five ‘high risk’ states – Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. They are also required to undergo RT-PCR test in case of any possible symptoms.
Notably, the administration of Malkangiri, which shares borders with Chhattishgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, had clamped between 9 pm and 6 am till March 31 to prevent large congregations, which have the potential for COVID-19 spread, despite having no active cases.
Also Read: [Watch] Night Curfew Returns To Odisha After 3 Months
On March 25, the Nabarangpur administration also imposed night curfew in the district to contain COVID-19 spread.
