Odisha CM directs DGP to launch 10-day special drive to ensure enforcement of Covid norms

Bhubaneswar: Giving emphasis on enforcement of Covid norms strictly at both institutional and individual levels, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today directed the DGP, Odisha, Abhay to engage adequate police personnel across the State during a 10-day special drive to ensure the Covid safety protocols are followed.

During a Covid review meeting through video conference in which Chief Secretary, DGP, District Collectors and senior officials were present, the Chief Minister stated, “We have to enforce the Covid safety protocols strictly to slow down the spread of the virus. DGP will deploy the police personnel in large numbers across the State in a 10-day drive to strictly enforce the Covid Safety protocols as notified.”

The Chief Minister directed Collectors to involve all sections of the society including PRI Members, Mission Shakti groups to ensure awareness and enforcement.

Also, he asked the I&PR Department to start a new awareness campaign to sensitise people to follow face mask, hand hygiene and social distancing norms.

“This new wave of Covid virus spread seems to be more infectious and might create a devastating situation, if we do not take it seriously,” he said.

The Chief Minister appealed the people of Odisha to be alert and follow the norms and cooperate with the enforcement machinery.

Observing that the virus spread is mainly concentrated in the Odisha districts adjoining the Chhattisgarh border, the Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare department and senior officials to visit the Western Odisha districts with high incidence of Covid positive cases and make an on-the-ground assessment and take suitable action on urgency basis.

He also directed the Health department to redeploy doctors, paramedics, lab technicians to Western Odisha districts to strengthen the manpower required to fight the virus with immediate effect.

“There should be sufficient hospital capacity to take care of the increasing cases. Adequate ambulances with oxygen supply to be deployed in the highly affected areas and proper monitoring systems to be put in place to ensure that any emergency call is addressed timely and with a sense of urgency and sensitivity. There should be no complaints about non-responsiveness of ambulances or lack of beds in the hospitals,” he emphasised.