Coronavirus Scare: Odisha CM Directs Curbs On Foreign Tours By Ministers & Officials

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chaired a review meeting on measures to check the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Odisha on Saturday.

The CM delegated tasks to tackle the situation to the different departments concerned, including restrictions on foreign travels by ministers and state government officials by the General administration Department, at the meeting held at Kharavela Bhavan here.

According to the CM’s directives, the delegated tasks are:

Chief Secretary & Collectors: The emerging situation will be reviewed on a daily basis by the chief secretary at the state-level and by the collectors at their respective districts. Committtees constituted under their chairmanship shall be empowered to take all necessary decisions.

Health & Family Welfare Department: It shall make emergency procurement of sufficient quantities of N95 masks, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and health care personnel. Buffer stocks of essential drugs and surgical shall be maintained to meet the requirement of nine months. In this context, Public Health Response Fund shall be augmented as per need

All hospitals, including private ones, must be asked to set up isolation facilities.

The department will ensure meticulous following of clinical protocols.

Revenue & Disaster Management and Home Departments: The two departments shall ensure that officials and staff will assist health officials in tracing and enforcing home isolation whenever the need arises.

General Administration Department: It shall restrict foreign travel of all ministers and officers. Biometric Attendance System shall be relaxed in all government offices until further orders.

Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department: It shall conduct special gram panchayat and panchayat samiti meetings to spread awareness on COVID-2019. Panchayats to keep village surroundings clean and ensure proper waste disposal management.

Housing & Urban Development Department: It shall ensure that all urban local bodies (ULBs) maintain cleanliness with proper waste disposal. Proper hygiene in all Aahar Kendras must be maintained.

Hoarding and Banners with related IEC content must be displayed at all prominent places and in plces of congregation.

W&CD & MS Department: It shall mobilise all SHGs to create awareness. It will stress on proper hygiene and hand washing must be stressed at all AWCs.

Commerce & Transport Department: It shall ensure that seats, handles & bars of all public transport vehicles are sanitized every day. Masks may be provided to travellers who cough & sneeze frequently. Guidelines on respiratory etiquette to be displayed.

School & Mass Education Department: The department shall issue advisory that floors, tables, desks, door handles & bars at the educational institutions must be disinfected every day. Sick children should be advised to stay at home. Soap & running water must be available and hand washing be promoted as a mission. Special arrangements to be made in hostels.