Odisha Frames Odisha COVID-19 Regulations, 2020: Key Highlights

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government today framed Regulations for prevention and containment of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19).

The regulations called ‘The Odisha COVID-19 Regulations, 2020′ has been formed under section 2, 3 & 4 of the Epidemic Diseases Act. 1897 (the Act).

Key Highlights of Odisha COVID-19 Regulations, 2020′

1. COVID-19 means the Coronavirus Disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) / Government of India.
2. Empowered Officer’ means officers empowered under Section 2(1) of the Act. [By Notification No. 7445 dated 11.03.2020 of this Department, Director of Public Health (DPH). Director of Health Services (OHS), Director, Medical Education & Training (DMET), all Collectors and Municipal Commissioners have been empowered to take such measures as are necessary to prevent the outbreak of COV1D-19 or the spread thereof within their respective jurisdictions.
3. All hospitals (government & private) should have COVID-19 corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19.
4. All hospitals (government & private) during screening of such cases shall record the history of travel of the person to any country or area where COVID-19 has been reported, In addition, the history of contacts of the suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 is also required to be recorded.In case the person has any such history of travel to affected areas in last 14 days and he/ she is asymptomatic, he/ she must remain in home quarantine for 14 days from the day of exposure. He/ she must abide by the Home Quarantine Guidelines issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India meticulously. Persons who do not observe the Home Quarantine Guidelines shall be quarantined in the quarantine facilities set up by Government.

   Person with travel history and symptoms as per case definition of COVID-19, must be isolated in a hospital as per protocol and he/ she will be tested for COVID-19 as per protocol.

   Information of all such cases must be given to State Integrated Disease iii. Surveillance Unit and Collector of the district/ local Municipal Commissioner immediately.

5. No person/ Institution/ organization will use any print or electronic or social media for dissemination of any information regarding COVID-19 without ascertaining the facts and prior clearance of the DMET, DPH, DHS or Collector as the case may be. This is necessary to avoid spread of any unauthenticated information and/or rumors regarding COVID-19. If any person/ Institution/ organization is found indulging in such activity, it will be treated as a punishable offence under these Regulations.
6. Undertaking COVID-19 tests by any private laboratories is not allowed.
7. The private health care institutions intending to test COVID-19 must send their test samples through State IDSP unit. The State IDSP unit will arrange testing strictly as per the guidelines issued by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi.
8. Any person with a history of travel in last 14 days to a country or area from where COVID-19 has been reported, must voluntarily report to State Control Room (0674 2390466) or to the State Surveillance Officer, IDSP (9439994857, 9439994859)/ Toll Free number 104 so that necessary measures may be initiated by DMET, DPH, DHS and the Collector/ Municipal Commissioner as the case may be.
9. Officers empowered under the Act are authorized to isolate and /or admit a person who develops symptoms simulating that of the COVID 19 infection as per the case definition criteria published by WHO or Government of India from time to time. The empowered officer may initiate action under the section 188 of Indian Penal Code (48 of 1860) against the person who refuses to comply to such advice of isolation and/or admission.In the event of COVID-19 being reported from a defined geographic area such as village, town, ward, colony, settlement, the Collector of the concerned district/ Municipal Commissioner of the concerned Municipal Corporation shall be competent to implement following containment measures, but not limited to these in order to prevent spread of the disease.

• Barring entry and exit of population from the containment area.
• Closure of schools, offices, cinema halls, swimming pools, gyms, etc. and banning mass congregations, functions as will be deemed necessary.
• Initiating active and passive surveillance of COVI D-19 cases.
• Hospital isolation of all suspected cases and their contacts..
• Designating any Government Building as a quarantine facility.
• Any other measure as directed by Health & Family Welfare Department.

10. Staff of all Government Departments and Organisations of the concerned area will be at the disposal of Collector/ Municipal Commissioner for discharging the duty of containment measures. If required, Collector/ Municipal Commissioner may requisition the services of any other person also. Additionally, services may be outsourced and persons may be engaged under short term contracts.

11. Any person/ Institution/ organization found violating any provision of these Regulations shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). Empowered Officers may penalize any person/ institution/ organization found violating provisions of these Regulations or any further orders issued by Government under these Regulations.

12. No suit or legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under this Regulation unless proved otherwise
These regulations shall come into force immediately and shall remain valid for aperiod of one year from the date of publication of this Notification.