Odisha Govt Tells Collectors To Monitor COVID Symptoms Of Cyclone Shelter Returnees

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday asked collectors of 12 districts to closely monitor the COVID symptoms of persons returning from cyclone shelters and those engaged in cyclone management and restoration works.

In a letter to the collectors of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Puri, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul and Khurda, Additional Chief Secretary, Health Pradipta Mohapatra said several families shifted to cyclone shelters had stayed there in close quarters and several persons engaged in post-cyclone restoration works had worked in close proximity to others.

“As the families in the cyclone shelters are now returning to their homes and the restoration works will also be completed over time, it is important that the persons concerned should be closely monitored for COVID symptoms over the coming weeks,” he added.

To ensure this, Mohapatra told the collectors to sensitise the house-to-house survey teams to be particularly vigilant in surveillance of cyclone shelter-returned families and the field restoration team members who should also be sensitised to monitor their own heath.

In case of any symptoms, they should be immediately isolated and tested for COVID-19, he said and told the collectors to carry out the above instructions meticulously.