Odisha on Sunday registered a sharp rise in the COVID-19 cases with 91 persons testing positive taking the count to 828.
The government, which had earlier reported two deaths, backtracked saying the test result did not confirm to be COVID-19 positive in one case. Hence, the toll stands at four.
Now, the number of active cases is 604 as 220 have been discharged from COVID-19 hospitals.
As many as 87 new positive cases were reported from the quarantine centres. Among new cases, Bhadrak reported the highest 28 while 17 tested positive in Balasore. Ganjam, which is leading the table, reported 15 cases taking the district total to 292. It is followed by Jajpur with 121 and Balasore 119.
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Of the 28 cases reported from Bhadrak, 17 had returned from Surat, eight from West Bengal, two from Maharashtra and one from Hyderabad.
Four persons including a sarpanch have tested positive outside these quarantine centres. The identity of the sarpanch has not been divulged.
Sarpanchs have been delegated Collector’s powers to manage the centres and help admit all returnees into the temporary medical centres.
They were accorded frontline warrior status for their dedication in managing the COVID-19 facilities and strengthening the fight against the pandemic at the grassroots.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced ₹50 lakh compassionate assistance for the family members of any sarpanch dying of COVID-19. For the first time, the western district of Sambalpur has reported a positive case. With this, 22 of the 30 districts have reported positive cases.
As of now, Odisha has completed testing of 91,223 samples. The majority of those who tested positive had travel history to either Surat or Kolkata.
So far 1,33,245 Odias have returned by trains, buses and other vehicles. Upon their arrival, they are being sent to the 15,043 temporary medical centres set up in 6,798 panchayats. In all these centres, 6.66 lakh beds have been arranged to provide health services.
