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Bhubaneswar: CM Naveen Patnaik took bold & effective steps to contain the COVID19 pandemic. To protect the people from the disease, 40 percent of Odisha will be locked down for seven days.
Odisha government issues formal notification laying out the details pertaining to the lockdown in 5 districts & 8 major towns of the State from March 22 to March 29 in the wake of Covid_19 . The decision is the single largest lockdown for health reasons in independent India.
Subroto Bagchi, Chief Spokesperson of Govt. of Odisha on COVID-19 has informed regarding issues relating preparedness, awareness along with vigilance and monitoring of Corona related issues in a press meet held today in Geeta Govinda Sadan.
- 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.
- As on 12 noon today, 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.
- 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 today across the State.
- To maintain cleanliness in urban areas, ‘Swachha Sathis’ have been given responsibility of awareness programme.
Prasanta Patnaik