BIG BREAKING: Odisha makes RT-PCR -ve report mandatory for entry to State

Bhubaneswar: Amid spike in Covid cases, the Odisha government today made it compulsory for people coming to the State to produce RT-PCR negative report within 72 hours of entry or final vaccination certificate.

In an order, the Special Relief Commissioner’s office stated, “People coming to Odisha by any public transport like train, bus, aeroplane, or water ways etc. or by any private vehicles have to produce RT-PCR negative report obtained within 72 hrs of entry/ final vaccination certificate (after two doses of vaccination).”

The new directive will be effective from April 12, 2021.

It further stated people coming to the State without such report shall have to undergo seven days of mandatory home or institutional quarantine.

Also, all public transport from Odisha to Chhattisgarh and vice versa will be suspended from April 10, 2021 till April 30, 2021.

With the help of State Police and under active guidance of District Collectors, the Transport Department has been directed to set up border check points (BCPs) at strategic locations and border entry points to manage entry of incoming persons and vehicles, the order stated.

The SRC authorised the Collectors of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts to set up and operationalise Temporary Medical Centres (TMCs)/ Cluster Temporary Medical Centres (CLTMCs) as per the requirement to provide the institutional quarantine facilities for people coming from other States.

The expenditure for opening and running of such facilities shall be borne under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF), the order stated.

Persons coming through the border check points will have to produce the Final Vaccination certificate/ RT-PCR negative report obtained within 72 hours prior to the entry to the State. If they fail to produce the required document, they will be put in home/ institutional quarantine for seven days. The incoming persons will give an undertaking to this effect.

Also, the incoming person will submit a filled-in form containing the name, from where coming, the address of destination, mobile number and alternate contact number.

All industries, educational institutions and commercial establishments shall ensure implementation of all COVID appropriate behavior and protocols and set up their own isolation facilities i.e Covid Care Centres (CCCs)/ Covid Care Homes (CCHs) for Covid positive persons found in their establishments. The expenditure incurred for this purpose shall be borne by them, the order read.

Any person found violating the order will be punished under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other relevant laws, the order stated.