Odisha declares more containment zones, total COVID-19 cases 42

Bhubaneswar, Apr 8 () The Odisha government onWednesday declared more areas as containment zones forsurveillance and contact tracing of novel coronavirusinfection, though no fresh positive case was detected in thestate since Tuesday.

The total COVID-19 case in the state remains 42.

While five areas comprising 7,992 households in thestate capital were sealed and put under containment zones, theBhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it undertooksurveillance of about 4,000 people to ascertain their COVID-19status and blood samples of some suspected people were sentfor testing, officials said.

The areas which have come under the containment zoneswere Surya Nagar, Azad Nagar, Bomikhal, Satya Nagar and IBColony. This apart, the BMC also sealed a sub-post office atBJB Nagar in the city from where a postman was confirmed as aCOVID-19 patient.

Residents of Satya Nagar were now tense as theadministration had found four coronavirus positive cases weredetected from the area about three days ago.

"It is found that one of the COVID-19 positive casesused to visit an Omfed stall (a milk booth) frequently. Wehave sealed the area and requested citizens visiting the placein the last 14 days most home quarantine and call 104 in caseof any COVID-19 symptoms. Your cooperation is appreciated,"the BMC said in a Twitter post on Wednesday.

Local people were not happy as they feel theadministration was late in announcing the presence of fourCOVID-19 patients in Satya Nagar.

"Many of us have visited the Omfed booth which the BMCsays was frequented by one of the patients. We feel betrayedfor not being informed earlier," said a 55-year-old womanrequesting anonymity.

Officials said containment zones were declared ineight districts including Khurda where Bhubaneswar is located.Other such zones were located in Cuttack (3), Ganjam (1),Jajpur (1), Kendrapara (11 villages), Puri (1), Bhadrak (1)and Kalahandi (1).

Meanwhile, the city based Institute of Life Sciences(ILS), had obtained the approval of Department ofBiotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, to conductCOVID-19 tests in Odisha. The testing will commence next week,a tweet by Health Department said Wednesday.

This will be the fourth such testing centre forCOVID-19 in Odisha.

The government has made food and accommodationarrangement in 1948 camps for around 65,000 'Guest Workers'.These workers are from various states of the country, saidgovernment COVID-19 spokesman Subroto Bagchi.

Up to 12 noon of Wednesday, 2441 samples have beentested of which 42 tested positive. Two persons have alreadybeen cured and discharged from hospital while one patient diedand the number of active cases is 39.

Out of 42 positive cases, 34 from Bhubaneswar, 3 fromBhadrak and one each from Cuttack, Puri, Kalahandi, Jajpur andKendrapara. AAM SKNNN NN