COVID-19: Odisha to Write Centre for Setting up Coronavirus Testing Centres, Quarantine Facility

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of increasing cases of Coronavirus suspects, the Odisha Government has decided to urge the Centre to set up a State-level quarantine facility and two Coronavirus testing centres in the State.

Speaking to media after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chaired a high-level review meeting to discuss the measures to control the outbreak of the virus in State, Health Secretary Nikunja Dhal said, “The Odisha Government will write to the Centre for creation of a State-level quarantine facility and two centres at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack and Regional Medical Research Center (RMRC), Bhubaneswar for testing of Coronavirus patients.”

The samples from suspects collected in the State are now being sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune for test due to lack of such facility in the State.

Dhal said, “The first case of Coronavirus was detected in the country in Kerela and then for three weeks there were no such cases reported. But recently 28 positive cases of Coronavirus has been detected in the country therefore this has created panic among the people.”

“We had a discussion regarding our preparations to stop spreading of Coronavirus in the State and what additional preparations need to be made. It was decided to create quarantine facility at the State-level. Besides, people have been advised to stay away from mass gatherings and get into the practice of frequently washing hands,” he added.