BMC Restricts Entry Of Workers From Neighbouring States, Hotspot Odisha Dists

Bhubaneswar: Taking note of the steady rise in the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the capital city, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday restricted the entry of workers from neighbouring states as well hotspot districts of Odisha to the city.

Briefing the media, BMC commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary said that instructions have been issued to all industrial units, construction companies, hotels/hospitality sector, government and private contractors not to bring any workers/labourers from outside the state to Bhubaneswar till July 31 and utilize locally available resources for the time being.

In case any of these establishments have already engaged workers or labourers from outside Odisha, they should ensure their mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the date of arrival. If any worker/labourer has any symptom, owner of the concerned establishment must conduct COVID-19 test at his own cost and inform the BMC about the test result, Chaudhary said.

The BMC commissioner added that if business establishments bring in workers/labourers from non-hotspot districts, they must ensure their 14-day quarantine and testing, failing which appropriate action will be taken.

Justifying the BMC’s decision, Chaudhary said it had been found that one industrial organization had brought some workers from a neighbouring state and put all of them in quarantine, yet 34 of them were found to be COVID-19 positive after testing.