Odisha Fights COVID-19: Go All Out To Trace Nizamuddin Returnees, 5T Secy Tells Collectors & SPs

V K Pandian

Bhubaneswar: Taking note of the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases in Odisha in the past three days and the return of 28 persons from the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin, 5T Secretary VK Pandian has instructed district collectors and SPs to trace the returnees immediately.

“Any delay in this exercise is going to cost dearly to the returnees, their families and the state. As the next 48 hours are very critical, we will go all out on this,” Pandian said in a letter on Saturday.

Referring to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s appeal to the Nizamuddin returnees, Pandian asked the collectors and SPs to request religious leaders in their respective areas to make repeated appeals and motivate the returnees to come forward.

“It is important that the civil administration, police and health department work in a focused way at all levels to identify the returnees and motivate them to come for medical assistance and testing,” he added.

The secretary asked the district administration and police to use their sources to identify the returnees in this regard.

He also asked the Health and Family Welfare Department to stay in readiness with 104 ambulance service for any emergency and follow-up action.

Notably, the CM on Saturday appealed to all the returnees to call 104 and come forward for testing with an assurance that the state government would provide full protection to those who come forward for the test for the safety of their families.