Lockdown 2.0: Odisha Govt Wants Centre To Test Stranded Odia Migrant Workers Before Homecoming

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will ask the Centre to get Odia migrant labourers stranded in other states tested for COVID-19 before they are allowed to enter their home state after the lockdown.

“Tomorrow, I will have a video conferencing with Union Health Minster Harsh Vardhan on this matter,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kumar Das said on Thursday.

“I had earlier proposed to him to make necessary provisions to conduct COVID-19 tests of all Odia migrant labourers currently stranded in different states before sending them to their home state after the lockdown so that it will be easier for our government to take the follow-up action,” the minister added.

He further stated that all sarpanchs in Odisha have pledged to fight against coronavirus and the state government has taken all precautionary measures for the migrant labourers following an order by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.