Next two weeks crucial, says Odisha govt’s COVID-19 spokesperson

Bhubaneswar: At a time when deadly COVID-19 has spread its tentacles across nations, the Odisha government today said the next two weeks will be very crucial.

Speaking to media persons, the State government’s Chief Spokesperson on COVID-19 Subroto Bagchi said, “We have to be very careful as the next two weeks will be decisive.”

He added strict action will be taken against persons spreading fake news or disinformation. “When the country is going through such difficult situations, some irresponsible persons and anti-socials have been circulating fake information about the deadly virus. A rumour has been going through on different platforms that 15 positive cases have been reported at a Bhubaneswar-based educational institution. Spreading such rumours is totally unacceptable,” he added.

The State-level Corornavirus Monitoring Committee’s Chairperson Surendra Kumar informed that there is not short supply of food items and essential goods in the State.

“We are in touch with stockists and retailers in the State. We are committed to ensure supply of essential goods to consumers during the COVID-19 lockdown,” Kumar added.

There has been a spike in number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country recently. Worth mentioning, a significant number of them attended a religious payer meeting at Hazrat Nizamuddin from March 8-10.

In Odisha, out of 610 samples, four have been test positive for COVID-19 till April 1, 2020. A total of 88 persons have been kept under isolation in different hospitals.