By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is missing no stone unturned to provide adequate health services and has asked to strictly follow ‘Odisha COVID-19 Regulations, 2020’.
The Patnaik led BJD Government here on Monday appointed four IAS as Officers on Special Duty in the Health & Family Welfare Department in addition to their own duties till June 30 for enforcement of ‘Odisha COVID-19 Regulations, 2020’.
The IAS officers who got the additional charges are:-Somesh Kumar Upadhyay, IAS (RR-2017), CGM, OMFED, Bhubaneswar with additional charge of CEO, Hockey Promotion Council, Bhubaneswar, P. Anvesha Reddy, IAS (RR-2017), ED, OMC Ltd., Bhubaneswar with additional charge of ED, OMECL, Bhubaneswar, Patil Ashish Ishwar, IAS (RR-2017), ED, GRIDCO, Bhubaneswar and Divakara T.S., IAS (RR-2017), OSD, OCAC, Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, Odisha Government’s Chief Spokesperson on COVID-19, Subroto Bagchi, has advised people not to be swayed away by rumours.
Bagchi said it is most important to keep ourselves clean. Personal hygiene and social distancing are crucial to keeping ourselves protected from the Coronavirus, he said and added that our Chief Minister has appealed to all to remain calm but not complacent.
He said all tests in the state are negative and listed out the different measures initiated by the Odisha government for preparing to combat COVID-19.
Mr. Subroto Bagchi said the cabinet has declared COVID-19 as a disaster under the provision of Disaster Management Act-2005 and empowered public officials to combat the spread of deadly disease. At a news conference at Geeta Gobind Sadan here on Sunday, Bagchi said the government is aggressively spreading of advisories and guidelines on standard precautions.
Guidance for cleaning and disinfection Public Transport settings has been issued, he said and added that airports and railways have been asked to follow the standard guidelines and standard precautions.
Bagchi said all social gatherings, religious functions, receptions, parties are to be regulated by local authorities. The District Collectors have been nominated as Head of the district for monitoring and supervision activities of COVID-19.
At the outset, commissioner of the concerned department Sanjay Kumar Singh apprised the media persons on coronavirus.
The presser was attended by principal secretary, Industries, Hemant Kumar Sharma, health secretary Shalini Pandit, information and technology secretary Manoj Mishra, DMET professor Dr. CBK Mohanty, Public relations director Krupasindhu Mishra and Niranjan Sethi.
Howvere, in order to prevent spread of COVID-19 continuous efforts in all sectors is very much needed, said Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary.
Chairing a meeting with the authorities of private hospitals, owners of hotels and tutorials in the city, the BMC Commissioner laid emphasis on the ‘All For Help’ to curb the outbreak of Coronavirus.
The participants were first provided hand sanitisers to wash their hands before the commencement of the crucial meeting. Following this, Public Health Director Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty read out the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Also presenting the ‘Odisha COVID-19 Regulations, 2020’ which was issued by Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt of Odisha, Mohanty said:
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary here today where discussions were made to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. Besides, a separate SOP was issued for the city-based hotels.
Accordingly, they have been asked to keep an ample amount of hand sanitisers and facilitate a limited number of guests. Persons suffering from cold and fever have been advised not to take part in functions and to provide mobile numbers and travel details of foreign tourists, Besides, the BMC will also generate awareness on Coronavirus through public announcements.
This apart, if any suspected person is noticed in the hospitals, it has been directed to first inform Public Health Director and BMC. Besides, the open gyms in parks will also be closed from tomorrow.
While will be no bookings of BMC Kalyan Mandaps, if private Mandaps book functions they will have to adhere to the SOP. The coaching centres have been also issued notices to stop classes.
Moreover, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will open a special COVID-19 cell from tomorrow which will remain open from day to evening to address the problems related to coronavirus.
In Cuttack, the Bar Council of Odisha will request Orissa High Court to close proceedings in view of deadly coronavirus outbreak, reports said.
Secretary, JK Samantasighar said the council will request the court to close it on an appropriate duration as a precautionary measure to help prevent further spread of the deadly disease.
He said it has become pandemic and it is high time that appropriate measures must be taken to neutralize the impact of the deadly disease in the state.
The special committee of Odisha State Bar Council said:”Considering the health hazards likely to be created by such virus has resolved to request the High Court to direct the courts within its jurisdiction to be closed in order to prevent crowding and possible infection, till such date as may be deemed expedient.”
