CM directs authorities to ensure basic supplies in containment areas

Bhubaneswar, Apr 6 () While monitoring the COVID 19situation in the state, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaikon Monday directed officials to ensure basic supplies in thecontainment areas where thousands of people are confined totheir houses for aggressive surveillance and corona testing.

Patnaik issued instructions to officials as theBhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has notified fourcontainment zones like Surya Nagar, Bomikhal, Kaplia Prasad,Jadupur and Begunia.

Of the total 39 COVID 19 cases in the state,Bhubaneswar alone has 32 patients making it as the corona hotspot in Odisha.

This apart, the local authorities have also declaredcontainment zones in Cuttack, Puri, Jajpur, Ganjam andKalahandi districts following detection of one or morepositive cases.

BMC commissioner P C Chaudhury said different nodalofficers have been appointed in the containment zones to lookafter the health service, supply of essentials commodities andother requirements of the people residing in the sealed areas.

He said the BMC officials are making door to doorvisit to each household in the containment areas to providegrocery, milk and other goods while medical teams are inreadiness to rush to houses if there is any urgency.

"Of the 32 coronavirus cases in the state capital, 30are active while two persons have so far been cured anddischarged from the hospital," the Health department said,adding that the chief minister is closely monitoring thesituation.

While making a sincere appeal to people to remainindoors and not to venture out, the chief minister alsocautioned citizens of criminal action if anyone violatessocial distancing norms. The shops and markets will be sealedif found violating social distancing norms, he said.

Patnaik also instructed the Health department toensure the safety of doctors and frontline workers duringhouse to house surveys in the containment areas.

Health and Family Welfare secretary N B Dhal has askedthe municipal corporations, district collectors and chiefdistrict public health officers to provide triple layersurgical masks to persons under quarantine at home.

Meanwhile, KIMS started its COVID hospital in thestate capital with 450 beds . At least 14 patients have so farbeen admitted to KIMS COVID Hospital here, the official said,adding that Hi-Tech COVID Hospital at Rourkela has alsostarted operation.

In regard to the 32 COVID-19 patients in Bhubaneswar,the Health department said most of the cases are linked tofirst case confirmed in Surya Nagar and Bomikhal.

"Almost all cases of Bomikhal are from one family andhave been put under active surveillance. Both Bomikhal andSurya Nagar clusters sealed and put under active surveillance,no need to panic", the department said in a twitter post.

Of Bhubaneswars 32 coronavirus cases, 19 patients arefrom Bomikhal area while eight are residents of Surya Nagar.The department could find out more cases from these two areasdue to aggressive surveillance during the complete shutdownperiod which ended on Sunday night.

There has been a spike in the COVID-19 cases in thestate since the beginning of April. "We had an internal targetto contain the COVID-19 cases within single digit figure inthe month of March and that has been achieved," said chiefsecretary A K Tripathy.

While the number of COVID-19 cases remained at 5 tillApril-1, it suddenly increased to 39 cases on April 5, theHealth department said. AAMRG RG