Bhubaneswar: Subroto Bagchi, Chief Spokesperson of Govt. of Odisha on COVID-19 has informed regarding preparedness, awareness measures along with utmost vigilance and monitoring on the issue in a press meet held today in Geeta Govinda Sadan. According to him following steps will be taken to protect Coronavirus in Odisha.
- The State Government have issued an advisory on religious institutions yesterday. The District Administration of Puri has issued directions restricting access of general public to Sri Jagannath Temple from tomorrow till 1st April.
- The State Government, after careful consideration has directed the District Magistrates to enforce similar restrictions in all religious places i.e. temples, mosques, Churches and Gurudwaras etc. from 20th March to 31st March.
- It is clarified that essential rituals may continue without any dislocation.
- So far, cumulatively 61 samples tested, found 60 negative and 1 positive.
- Yesterday 5 samples were tested and all were negative.
- Currently 23 people have been kept in isolation in different hospitals who have come in close contact with COVID-19 positive case as on 2PM.
- All district headquarters hospitals and Medical College hospitals have isolation facilities available. Currently 3183 isolation beds are in readiness across the State in Government and private hospitals.
- In last 24 hours, 104 Health Helpline has received12,268 calls.
- So far, about 2,600 registrations upto 2PM on 19th have been made, aboutpersons with travel history abroad.
- In Urban areas 450 buildings have been identified as centres to accommodate 51,160 persons.
- Today awareness meetings were held at 6798 Gram Panchayats across the state and 2.37 lakh members have attended these meeting.
- To provide immediate health Care in rural areas 7176 temporary medical camps have been established in 6798 GPs in which total no of bed capacity has been increased to 422426.
- A total no of 48,38,548 beneficiaries will be given 4 months pension in advance, it has been decided by the State Government and the Collectors are intimated by SSEPD Department accordingly. The beneficiary will be given advance amount directly in his village.
- In a major move Government have decided to allow the employees who are having symptoms of COVID-19 to leave the workplace immediately after informing the superior officer and avail leave for home quarantine for a period of 14 days. Further, the Govt. employees residing with a family member who has returned from a foreign visit on or after 4th March should also avail leave for self quarantine for a period of 14 days.
- All Group-C and Group -D employees identified by the Head of the Office in the State Secretariate and Directorate may be allowed to confine at home from 20/03/2020 to 31/03/2020. Group-A and Group-B Officers will be required to attend the office. Heads of the Government Departments may give effect to roster/rotation of staff considering the requirement of smooth management of government work. The employees who are allowed to stay at home during this period must confined themselves to home and not move around. The employees allowed to stay at home will not participate in any congregations/gathering restricted by administration during this period. In case of any violation by an employee during this period, the entire period will be treated as ‘leave without pay’.
- Directors, Collectors, SPs, Heads of District level Offices as well as field offices are authorised to decide the number of employees who are required to come to office during this period.
- Jail Superintendents have been instructed to identify a designated well ventilated place as isolation room for isolation of suspected cases.
- Government have decided to allow e-mulakat system in District Head Quarter Jails.
- All High-end saloons, beauty parlour, spa etc must stay closed until further orders.
- All cultural events are to be postponed. Entry into museums, library, theatres to be stopped.
- Bathing, cleaning and various other purposes in common water reservoirs like ponds are to be avoided as far as possible. Instead of using common water ponds, hand pumps, tube-wells and pipe water supplies are to be used.
- H&UD Department has issued guidelines for sensitization of Resident Welfare Associations in apartments and colonies for any emergency situation.
- Bhitarkanika Nature Camp, all the zoos in the state, the Eco-tourism destination, Jayadev Batika run by Forest & Environment Department Shall remain closed till 31st March 2020. The Botanical Garden of RPRC, Bhubaneswar shall remain closed for public from 2 PM everyday.
- Movement of Interstate buses, trains and vehicles carrying goods/commodities not to be stopped either at interstate borders inside the state.
- Consumption of poultry and poultry products including egg is safe. General hygiene practices to be followed while handling poultry and poultry products.
- Animal owners and pet owners should not abandon their animals to stray without proper food, water or shelter due to the fear of spread of COVID-19.
- All examinations including final semester and back paper of BPUT and VISSUT postponed till further orders.
- From Monday onwards i. e. 23/03/2020 Higher Secondary Exam-2020 stands postponed.
