Odisha Govt needs testing kits & masks to undertake mass testing

Odisha govt seeks more N95 masks, PPEs from Centre to combat Covid-19
The Odisha government’s demand came after doctors of state-run Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla wrote to Patnaik seeking quality masks and PPEs for doctors and nurses who deal with Covid-19 patients.At the time when the number of coronavirus positive is increasing with each passing day, the Odisha government’s Covid-19 spokesperson Subrat Bagchi in his daily presser said, “We have to be very careful as the next two weeks will be decisive and crucial”.

Subrat Bagchi also had a message for rumour-mongers. He said that stern action will be taken against those creating panic in society by spreading fake news on social media about Covid-19.

“It has come to the notice that some people have posted a message on social media that about 15 staffers of a private educational institution in Bhubaneswar are infected with coronavirus, which is absolutely false. The act of these people is utterly condemnable and despicable. When the country is going through such difficult situations, some irresponsible people and anti-social elements are circulating fake information about the deadly virus,” Subrat Bagchi said.

“The government will take strict action against them,” Bagchi asserted.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathi told India Today TV that he raised the issue about the shortage of Covid-19 testing kits, personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with the Centre, while on video-conferencing with Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba.

Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba said that the Centre is in talks with manufacturers and efforts are on to raise production of these essential items.

The Odisha government’s demand came after doctors of state-run Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla wrote to Patnaik seeking quality masks and PPEs for doctors and nurses who deal with Covid-19 patients.

Four coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Odisha so far but the state government has opened many quarantine centres and isolation wards.

The Centre asked the states to trace attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat gathering and persons with whom they had come in contact with, an official present at the video conference said.

The states were also asked to initiate action against attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat gathering from abroad who had violated visa norms, he said.

The Centre also asked the states to ensure that movement of goods is not hindered but while maintaining social distancing norms, the official added.