Containment Measures Back In Bhubaneswar After 4 Foreign Returnees Test COVID Positive

Bhubaneswar: Two areas in Odisha capital have been declared as micro-containment zones after four foreign returnees tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 48 hours.

Restrictions were imposed on two houses in Jayadurga Nagar area of Bomikhal after two persons, who had recently returned from the United Kingdom (UK), tested positive for the virus. The duo was admitted to SUM Dedicated Covid Hospital (DCH) after they were found infected on Sunday and their contact tracing has been completed, Bhubaneswar Municipal Commission (BMC) sources informed.

The samples sent for genome sequencing are yet to be tested for Omicron.

“The move was essential to contain transmission in the city,” BMC Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Singh told the media.

Besides ensuring the supply of essentials and medical assistance, a dedicated medical expert has been engaged to monitor the health condition of the family members of the two persons during the containment period.

Another house in VSS Nagar, where multiple COVID cases were detected, have also been declared as a micro-containment zone.

The civic body has also decided to declare houses of two Nigeria returnees who tested positive for COVID as a micro-containment zone. They will also be admitted to SUM DCH and the genome sequencing for Omicron conducted in accordance with norms, sources said.

Since November, 8800 people have returned to Odisha from foreign countries and 1600 of them are from at-risk nations. “Samples of 12 COVID-infected foreign returnees were sent for genome sequencing and two among them have been detected positive for Omicron. Both are from ‘non at-risk countries’,” Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra.

Notably, Bhubaneswar had reported 80 new infections on December 20 and 68 on December 21. The number had spiralled to 103 on December 19.