5000 Samples To Be Collected In ‘COVID Hotspot’ Bhubaneswar In 7 Days; Know Who All Will Be Tested

Bhubaneswar: Unveiling the ‘Bhubaneswar Strategy’ to tackle the coronavirus pandemic during lockdown 2.0, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy on Friday said that 5000 samples will be tested in the city in seven days.

“We will begin maximizing testing of samples from Bhubaneswar for epidemiological study of COVID-19 in the city,” he said.

Tripthay said that the Odisha capital had turned into COVID-19 hotspot with 46 of the total 60 cases being reported in the city so far and emerged as a critical area.

Elaborating on Bhubaneswar Strategy, he said that 1958 tests have so far been done in the city and the capacity of the seven labs is being ramped up increase the number of tests.

The chief secretary said the state Health Department has prepared a priority-basis methodology for COVID testing:
Priority 1: people with travel history, SARI patients, health workers in COVID-19 hotspots and people in densely populated localities (slums)
Priority 2: Police, sanitation, COVID workers
Priority 3: People above 60 with co-morbidity
Priority 4: Random population

Stating that no risk was involved in it, he urged people to come forward for the tests for early detection and containment of the disease in the capital city. “Law enforcement agencies will intervene and action will be taken against people refusing to be tested during this exercise,” he added.