Odisha govt to conduct 5,000 COVID tests in Bhubaneswar

The Odisha government on Friday decided to conduct tests on about 5,000 samples in hotspot Bhubaneswar in the next 7 days, said chief secretary Asit Tripathy on Friday.

Out of total 60 COVID-19 positive cases, Bhubaneswar has reported 46 cases.

"Odisha government has decided to conduct 5,000 tests during the next seven days in Bhubaneswar. There are 60 positive cases of coronavirus in the state as of now with no new cases reported in the last two days," said the chief secretary.

He said 19 people have been cured so far while 46 are from Bhubaneswar.

The chief secretary informed that the state government has decided to intensify COVID-19 tests in upcoming days in the state capital.

Tripathy said the samples will be collected on a four-tier priority basis from people who are at risk because of the highly infectious virus.

"We have divided Bhubaneswar into three containment zones. Special officer has been appointed to look after the government's engagement in the capital city," said the chief secretary.

He said that in the top priority are SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness) patients and healthcare workers deployed at COVID-19 hotspots.

He said police personnel, sanitation workers and COVID workers belong to the second tier.

While the third priority category has senior citizens with co-morbid conditions, some samples will be collected at random basis in the capital city.