Odisha Govt Asks People Not To Panic Over Coronavirus, COVID-19 Test Begins At RMRC

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has urged the people not to panic over the coronavirus disease (COVID 19).

Briefing mediapersons here on Sunday, principal secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Nikunja Bihari Dhal said that the state has now a modern testing facility at the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) for quick diagnosis of the virus. The centre can test 14 to 20 samples of the suspects a day. “Till now, 14 samples sent from different government hospitals as well as medical colleges and hospitals have been tested at the centre,” he said, adding that the private hospitals can also send samples to RMRC.

The Health Secretary also informed that an additional testing facility will be created at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack if required.

Maintaining that not a single positive case has been detected in the state so far, he said the samples of 131 people, who were kept under observation, have tested negative.

He further said that healthy persons are not required to wear face masks. People should stick to basic things like frequent washing of hands and not touching the eyes, ears and nose. However, anyone having any symptoms of the disease should use the masks, he added.

The Health secretary also spoke about the following measures being taken up by the state government.

—Control room functional 24X7 with three emergency numbers 0674-2390466/9439994857/9439994859.

—Isolation wards with ventilator support in all medical college and hospitals and Capital Hospital

—Screening of all passengers at the airports and ports.

—Trained state as well as district rapid response teams (RRTs) are in position for case detection and contact tracing.

—Workplace advisory has been issued to all departments, corporates and other institutes.

—School advisory has been issued to all schools.

—Do’s and don’ts with other IEC (information, education and communication) materials are being circulated both in Odia and English language in all the leading dailies as well as the electronic media.

—The district collectors have been nominated as head of the district for monitoring and supervision activities of COVID-19.

—Places have been identified in Jatni, Cuttack, Burla and Berhampur for mass quarantine

Present on the occasion, director, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, B Geetanjali said the institution is ready to deal with any incoming patients. “We have kept the isolation beds and all necessary equipment ready. We have also procured other wearable items like masks, gloves and gowns,” she added.

She also said that the AIIMS-Bhubaneswar is in constant touch with the state machinery because this is the situation where we have to work in tandem.

Praising the state government for its relentless efforts to deal with the situation, she said that former had provided all possible information through the media for the general public.

“There is no need for the people to panic as there is no such situation in the state. They should follow the routine precautionary measures like frequent washing of hands and avoid meeting places. In case someone has high fever, running nose or all symptoms of flu, the family members should immediately inform the doctors and keep the ailing person indoor,” she pointed out.

Among others, director, I&PR Krupasindhu Mishra, Director Medical Education and Training (DMET) Prof CBK Mohanty, Director, Public Health, Ajit Kumar Mohanty and senior officers of Health and Family Welfare Department were present.