Conduct COVID-19 Test Of Migrant Workers Before Entering State, HC Tells Odisha Govt

Cuttack: Expressing concern over the alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 patients in Odisha, the Orissa High Court on Thursday directed the state government to conduct sample tests of migrant workers before allowing them to enter the state.

The court, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by social activist Narayan Jena, directed the state government to conduct the RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) test of migrant Odia workers in their state of residence and allow their entry in Odisha only after they test negative for the virus.

The court directed the state government to bear the expenses of the test.