Odisha reports 66 new COVID cases; total rises to 1335

A total of 66 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha, taking total to 1,335, a revised statement issued by the state government said on Sunday.

Though the Health and Family Welfare Department earlier in the morning said that 67 more people have been detected for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, late in the

afternoon it changed the number to 66.

The government also added Bargarh as a new district in the list of coronavirus-affected districts in the state. With this, the number of districts that have so far reported the deadly virus increased to 28. There are 30 districts in Odisha.

Of the 66 new cases, 59 people staying in government quarantine centres tested positive while four others were from home quarantine and three others from local

people, an official said, that adding the new cases were reported from 14 different districts.

The highest number of fresh cases was reported in Puri (16), followed by Nayagarh (13), Ganjam (8), Bolangir (7), Angul (5), Sundergarh (4), Khurda (3), two each in Kalahandi, Cuttack and Malkangiri and one each in Bargarh, Nuapada, Dhenkanal and Jagatsinghpur districts.

Of the 1,335 COVID-19 cases, 778 are active, while 550 patients have recovered and seven have died.

The state on Sunday reported 53 people recovering from the disease of which 30 come from Ganjam, 18 from Jajpur, three from Khurda and two from Keonjhar.

Altogether 5,388 samples were tested on Saturday, taking the total number of samples tested for COVID-19 in the state to 1,23,834.

Meanwhile, the state government has amended the quarantine policy and also further relaxed restrictions and movement of people, particularly in bus, taxi and auto

rickshaws.

The official said that 17,706 people returned to Odisha Sunday. Since May 3, 2,55,404 people have returned to the state. Returnees are coming by train/bus and

other vehicles.

Keeping in view the large number of returnees, the state government has amended the guideline for quarantine in rural areas. The quarantine period for returnees to the state will be limited to 14 days. This shall be implemented by local

authorities like district collectors.

Returnees in rural areas will undergo seven days of mandatory institutional quarantine instead of earlier 21 days, following which asymptomatic returnees will be discharged to undergo home quarantine for a further period of seven days, said

Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena.

If the local authorities find it necessary for reasons related to containment of COVID-19 and to prevent the spread of infection, they may extend the period of institutional quarantine of the returnees, he said, quoting the amended

guideline.

Incase a person develops symptoms requiring medical attention, he or she may be shifted to COVID Care Centre orCOVID Hospital.

Similarly, the guideline for quarantine in urban areas has been modified to the effect that every person on return from outside Odisha shall have to compulsorily stay in home quarantine for a period of 14 days, observing guidelines issued by the health department.

If a person does not have proper quarantine facility at home, he or she shall undergo institutional/paid quarantine for a duration as directed by local authorities, Jena said.

Government officials, professionals, businessmen or any other person travelling to Odisha on work and intending to exit within 72 hours, officials, professionals, businessmen or any other person who has travelled from Odisha on work and are returning to the state within 72 hours of departure from the state, and a person who has already undergone prescribed quarantine are exempted from mandatory quarantine.

The state government also appealed to different Odia organisations, the returnees as well as the local authorities to extend all cooperation in this regard to contain the spread of COVID-19.

A total of 16,586 temporary medical centres/camps spread over all the 6798 gram panchayats have been set up in the state to place the returnees in quarantine. There are

7,29,095 beds to provide COVID-19 health services in rural areas.