By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union PNG-Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are jointly missing no stone unturned to remain alert to fight back COVID-19 as 2 cases so far reported from the State. Chief Minister Patnaik and Union Pradhan marked the occasion in Bhubaneswar and New Delhi respectively. Patnaik and Pradhan have expressed his gratitude to the people of Odisha for giving wholehearted support to ‘Janta Curfew’ and has appealed for similar cooperation from the people of Odisha for the ‘Lock Down’.
Odisha Government Spokesperson on COVID-19, Subroto Bagchi said 2 positive cases were reported while 28 persons are currently in isolation in hospitals. Bagchi said, “76 samples were sent for test and reports of all the samples have been obtained. All the samples were tested negative and the health of the two coronavirus positive patients’ are stable.
While it is reported that 56 persons had contact with the patient. Communication has been made with 53 persons while effort is on to communicate rest three persons. Nine monitoring teams are working for the purpose. Besides, 3474 persons have been registered through 104 Helpline, he informed.
Purighat Police has registered an FIR against a person under Home Quarantine for not following the advisory and indulging in risky behaviour. The identity of the person is not disclosed to protect his privacy, Bagchi said.
Baghci also said, “Railway Board has declared closure of all Passenger Trains with immediate effect and up to midnight of 31st March. The trains en route shall be allowed to reach their destination.
He further informed that all interstate bus operation to and from Odisha will remain suspended till further orders. Inter-state buses coming from other states will not be allowed to reach their destination in Odisha after 11AM on 23/03/2020. Similarly, no inter-state bus will be allowed to operate to other states from Odisha after 11 AM on 23/03/2020.
Moreover, the Odisha government has constituted a State level Monitoring Unit on Goods & Services. The Committee shall assess requirements and monitor the flow of goods and take actions to remove bottlenecks if any. It shall also create a platform to facilitate traders and transporters to air their issues and resolve the same.
There shall be no restriction on the movement of Permitted Goods including coal and other minerals to ensure a smooth supply chain. All Permitted Goods vehicles shall be allowed to move unhindered.
Wholesale markets shall function 24X7 on a rotation basis with time slotting for different wholesalers to operate to avoid over-crowding in the market.
Field functionaries of the Food Supply & Consumer Welfare Department, Police and Transport department have been instructed to ensure smooth movement of vehicles carrying permitted goods as per the Lockdown order no. 8709 dated 21.03.2020 of Health & Family Welfare Department.
SANJOG Help-line Toll-Free number (155335) shall be utilised for registering and addressing all grievances by traders / Shopkeepers / Wholesalers who face any problem relating to smooth supply/movement of Permitted Goods traffic. This shall function from morning to night in two shifts.
All the Sports Hostels under the Administrative Control of the Sports and Youth Services Department have been closed from 23rd March to 5th May. The inmates will be given food expenses and allowances for this period and will be paid travelling expenses for safe return to their home, Bagchi concluded.
