Conflicting Test Reports Leave Odisha MLA ‘Corona Confused’

Bhubaneswar: To believe or not to believe! This is the predicament of an Odisha MLA over the accuracy of COVID-19 tests.

The BJP legislator from Rengali, Nauri Nayak, first tested positive for coronavirus and then negative within 24 hours.

According to reports, the MLA’s swab sample was collected on the Assembly premises on November 19, a day before the commencement of the winter session. Nayak was informed that he had tested positive around 11.50 pm on the very same day.

Next day, he underwent another COVID-19 test at a private healthcare facility in the city, but tested negative.

After Nayak drew Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro’s attention to the matter, his swab sample was again been collected for another test.

“If there is no accuracy over the COVID-19 test of an MLA, there is no reliability of the same for the public,” said Nayak.

“I had earlier sought COVID-related information in the Assembly through questions. I was told that the information was being collected. I doubt whether I am being deliberately kept away from the House over the incident,” he added.

Notably, Nayak had also tested positive for COVID-19 before the monsoon session of the Assembly and undergone 17 days of isolation.