Odisha to provide compassionate assistance to families of Covid warriors

Bhubaneswar: As the Centre announced Rs 50 lakh assistance to the family of a Covid warrior, the Odisha government sent the list of 60 persons killed during the Covid management duty. But the Central government agreed to provide assistance to one martyr. This was informed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during a review meeting through video conference on Covid management in the State.

Highlighting that the Odisha government would again draw the attention of the Centre on the issue, the Chief Minister announced the State will provide compassionate assistance to the families of the Covid warriors.

He emphasized on the need to improve the health of people recovering from Covid. As 78 percent of Covid patients in the State are currently under home isolation, the Chief Minister directed senior officials to contact the patients in the house isolation as well the patients in Covid Hospital directly and enquire their well-being.

The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that the number of cures in the State now exceeds two lakhs. The national cure rate is 85 percent, while the state’s recovery rate is 89 percent. In the last eight months, 36 lakh tests have been conducted in the state, of which 6.75 per cent have been tested positive in Odisha, he added.

He suggested that the implementation of testing, testing reports, information and treatment of patients be implemented more effectively.

Among others, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, DGP Abhay, Additional Chief Secretary PK Mohapatra, the PS to Chief Minister VK Pandian, the Development Commissioner, the Special Relief Commissioner and other officials were present in the video conference meeting.