3 Times More COVID Tests In These 3 Odisha Districts During Complete Shutdown

Bhubaneswar: With 33 corona positive cases with 29 among them being detected in the last four days in Jajpur, Balasore and Bhadrak, the Odisha government on Thursday announced 60-hour complete shutdown from 10 PM and three times more COVID-19 tests to trace those infected in these districts.

Most of these patients had either travelled to West Bengal or had come in contact with those who had returned from the neighbouring state.

Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy said that the shutdown will be on the lines of the one enforced in Bhubaneswar for 48 hours earlier this month. The Odisha capital has not reported any new positive case since April 14, he added.

What this shutdown would mean?

Only emergency services and select medical shops will remain open

People have been asked to strictly stay at home

All primary, secondary contacts of COVID patients will be traced

Sarpanchs to identify those with recent travel history to West Bengal

People with recent travel history have been asked to voluntarily inform the authorities

Action will taken against those hiding their travel history

Active surveillance will be carried out

Public places will be sanitised

Goods transport will be allowed only on national highways passing through these districts