Odisha Fights COVID-19: I Hope Others Emulate Naveen Babu, Says PM Modi

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has set an example for the rest of the country in taking measures against coronavirus. It has taken proactive steps in that direction. 

Despite only one confirmed case, Odisha has closed down shopping malls, brought in COVID-19 Odisha Regulations, 2020 and Section 144 has been clamped in several districts. On Wednesday, the Puri administration even asked tourists to vacate hotels in two days. Six guest houses were sealed for non-compliance of corona-related advisory in Bhubaneswar.

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who set a benchmark by registering his sister’s details in the government portal for persons coming from abroad. “I hope others also emulate Naveen Babu. We can all do our bit in preventing the spread of Covid-19,” tweeted the PM.

Earlier, on Monday, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Dr Sasmit Patra gave a six-point suggestion to the Rajya Sabha on how to fight coronavirus based on the Odisha example. He suggested that a dedicated sensitisation session should be held for the MPs in Parliament on the lines of what is being done in Odisha by the Naveen Patnaik-led government.

Among the BJD MP’s other suggestions were sanitisation of ATMs, increasing testing centres, providing more PP suits for doctors, screening at domestic airport terminals (screenings are presently being done only at international terminals).