Bhubaneswar: With Odisha completing lockdown period of a month, the State government changed its strategy from defensive to offensive in its fight against Coronavirus pandemic.

Putting place exclusive Covid hospitals in all the district headquarters and testing labs at 8 centres, the Team Odisha Covid-19 has intensified screening of vulnerable persons.

The chief secretary Asit Tripathy accompanied by chief ministers secretaryb V. K. Pandian are reviewing the readiness of the Covid hospitals. Saturday, the two senior officers visited Bargarh, Bolangir, Subarnapur and Kandhamal districts and reviewed the readiness and management of COVID-19 Hospitals.

With Burla’s VIMSAR getting approval for COVID-19 sample testing, COVID-19 sample testing facilities are now available in 3 medical colleges, 4 government health institutions and 1 private hospital.

Bhubaneswar being the hotspot of Coronavirus spread, swab collection and testing has been intensified in the city. The testing is being done on the basis of vulnerability list as prescribed by ICMR and Health & Family Welfare department.
Notwithstanding I’ll treatment meted out to India migrant labourers and workers stuck up in other States, Odisha government has been providing food and accommodation along with health facilities through 2583 camps for around 78,000 ‘Guest Workers’. The government is monitoring the welfare of the migrants through Shramik Sahayata Call Centre-18003456703.

Meanwhile, the number of cases relating to violation of lockdown regulations has come down to 73. From 17th April morning to 18th April morning, 73 no of cases have been registered by the Police in the state for violation of different regulations and guidelines related to COVID-19 of which 69 no. of cases for violation of lock down, 1 case for violation of ‘Home Quarantine’ and 3 cases have been registered for other related issues. 67 persons have been arrested by police for different violations.

Odisha government’s chief spokesman on Covid-19, Subroto Bagchi, principal.health secretary Nikunja Bihari Dhal, I & PR secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, and CMC commissioner Ananya Das briefed the press about steps taken for prevention of COVID-19, here on Saturday.