By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/JAJPUR/KENDRAPARA/CUTTACK: Fearing Epidemic like situation, Odisha Government has extended its lock down decision to few more districts considering the ground realties in mind in the wake of outbreak of COVID- 19.
As on Monday late night, 70 samples were sent to be tested out of which reports on 69 samples have been obtained. 02 found positive and one report is awaited.Health of 02 identified patients’ remains stable.It is reported that 56 nos of persons had contact with the patient. Communication has been made with 53 persons while effort is on to communicate rest 03 persons.09 no of monitoring teams are working for the purpose.3236 nos of persons have been registered through 104 Helpline.23 persons who had contact with COVID-19 affected patient are in Hospital Isolation.
“To keep #COVID19 at a bay, #7DayOdishaLockdown announced by CM @Naveen_Odisha has been extended from 5 districts & 8 towns to 14 districts & 1 town which will be in force till 29 March. Establishments providing essential services will be exempt from restrictions during lockdown,” the CMO twitted.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik donated his three months’ salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). The Chief Minister of Odisha has further appealed all to donate generously towards CMRF’s COVID fund to help in providing humanitarian help to the affected people.
Extraordinary circumstance demands an extraordinary response. COVID-19 has created a great challenge for the entire world. It requires a lot of funds to carry out humanitarian activities.
Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board, Sanjay Das Burma has urged all BJD MPs and MLAs to donate three months’ salary to CMRF by 29 March.
His appeal has come after CM Naveen Patnaik donated his three months’ salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund . The Odisha CM has appealed all to donate generously towards CMRF’s COVID fund to help the affected people.
Sanjay Das Burma said the entire world has come forward to fight the deadly coronavirus. The Chief Minister has set an example by donating his three months’ salary to the Odisha Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
He further appealed intellectuals, well-wishers, leaders, and workers of Biju Janata Dal on behalf of the people of Odisha to donate their three month’s salary to the Odisha Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Accordingly, the lockdown has been imposed in the districts of Puri, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Dhenkanal from 7 am of 24 March till 9 pm of 29 March.
Earlier the lockdown was imposed in the districts of Khurda, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kendrapada, Angul and Municipal jurisdictions of Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Jajpur Road, and Bhadrak.
The health department stated that it is imperative to adopt strict social distancing and isolation measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, which is wreaking havoc in many countries across the world, including India.
More than 300 people have returned to Odisha from foreign countries and registered themselves in the COVID-19 portal introduced by the state government.
In addition to this, Railway stations and bus stands have been removed from the exempted category for internal transport and eateries located in them. Now Railways and bus transport are completely blocked in the entire state of Odisha.
In order to provide food security to poor, distressed and left-out eligible beneficiaries amid COVID-19 scare, the State government has decided to enhance coverage of 5 lakh beneficiaries under the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS).
This was informed by Subroto Bagchi, Chief Spokesperson of Govt. of Odisha on COVID-19. He was addressing the regular press meet at Geeta Govinda Sadan here this evening where he outlined the preparedness, awareness along with vigilance and monitoring of Corona related issues in the state.
In the first, Bagchi stated that keeping in view the difficult time arising out of COVID-19, Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik has said that time has come for us to take the extraordinary step and sacrifice to protect our state and our people. He has declared complete ‘Lock Down’ from 22nd to 29th March in 5 districts-Khorda, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kendrapara, Anugul and 8 towns-Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Jajpur Road, Jajpur Town and Bhadrak in first phase.
CM has appealed the people to remain in their house and come out for only basic services. Hospitals, clinics, medicine, grocery, vegetable, meat and milk shops will be open while administration, police, health, fire, ODRAF, electricity, water, municipal services, banks, ATMs, petrol pumps shall also remain open. The administration will take tough action on any one violating this, he added.
The State Government have been pleased to issue the regulations/advisory for prevention of Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) under Section-2 of the Epidemic Disease Act-1897 and in conformity with Rule-17 of guidelines issued by the Press Council of India. It states as under:
No media shall publish the name and address of the person infected/affected with COVID-19 Virus, his /her parents, relatives, the doctor treating the patient and the assisting medical staff, obtained through any source, in any Print/Electronics/Web/Social Media.
No media shall interview any patient affected with COVID-19, his/her parents/relatives/treating doctors, assisting medical staff, in any form.Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under the above provisions shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section -188 of IPC(45 of 1860) as per section-3 of the Epidemic Disease Act-1897.
In this time of COVID-19 scare to provide food security to poor, distressed and left-out eligible beneficiaries, Government has decided to enhance coverage of 5 lakh beneficiaries under the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS). These beneficiaries will get 5 Kgs of rice per person per month @ Re. 1/- per Kg from this tri-monthly allotment cycle of April, May & June 2020. Distribution of rice among the beneficiaries will be started from 24th March onwards.
All the Hostels managed by School and Mass Education Department will be closed except for students who are not picked up by parents/ guardians.
Mid-day Meal ration to the students for 3 months will be given in advance at one go, in the form of a signed coupon to be given by the Headmaster to each parent. They can lift rice from near PDS outlet, tagged to the school. The tagging will be finalised by the Block Education Officer. Necessary direction has been issued to District Education Officer and Dist Civil Supplies Officer in this regard.
Hostels of Special Schools and Therapy Centres under SSEPD Department have been closed till 30th June. The Boarders will be given 1200/- per month for 3 months as fooding and other assistance in advance. Besides, each beneficiary will be given maximum Rs. 500/- as conveyance to return to his/her home along with an attendant/assistant.
Extensive Awareness Campaign on COVID-19 in Rural areas has been started from 19th, involving the representatives of 3-tier Panchayatiraj System. Zilla Parishad level meetings are being held on Monday across the State.To maintain cleanliness in urban areas, ‘Swachha Sathis’ have been given responsibility of awareness programme.
