COVID-19 | Mobile phone location to track WB returnees in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: As more number of West Bengal returnees in Odisha have been detected with COVID-19 infection, the state Government is now taking all possible efforts to track people with travel history to the neighbouring state.

Besides assigning Sarpanchs for identifying such returnees at Panchayat level, the state Government is now tracking people with recent visit  to West Bengal through mobile phone location. Over 2900 people, who have returned from WB on or after March 25,have been traced so far based on their phone locations. They belong to 29 out of the 30 districts in the state.

In a letter, National Health Mission (NHM) Director Shalini Pandit asked the district administrations to track down the returnees and keep them under home quarantine. The district administrative officials have also been asked to send their samples for testing.

“We have tracked 21 out of total 43 returnees in Koraput  district. We have collected their samples and sent the same to RMRC in Bhubaneswar last night for testing. This method of tracking will surely be helpful in breaking the chain of transmission of virus,” said Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Makarand Beura.

As per the tracking list, Balasore district has highest 772 number of West Bengal returnees followed by Jajpur with 329 and Bhadrak with 242 returnees. Boudh has the least number in this direction with only one returnee.

It is pertinent to mention here that  total 33 persons with travel history to WB have so far tested COVID-19 positive in the state. They  belong to Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore districts.