Two staff of DRDO test positive for COVID-19 in Odisha

Balasore: As many as two staff of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Chandipur tested positive for deadly COVID-19.

Official sources said the two staff of Military Wing of the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) which comes under the DRDO developed suspected symptoms of COVID-19. The duo later visited Command Hospital in Kolkata where swab samples of the two staff were collected. After test reports confirmed them of being contracted COVID-19, the two staff were admitted to Barakpore hospital.

Meanwhile, the Balasore District Health Officer visited the PXE, Chandipur after two of its staff tested positive for the virus. Contact tracing is on and the office premises have been sanitized.

Additional Director of PXE, HS Panda informed the employees have been advised to work from home and stay in isolation.

Meanwhile, Integrated Test Range (ITR) Director Binoy Kumar Das said security arrangement on the premises of the test range has been tightened. This apart, the ITR is functioning with the half of its employee strength after two employees of PXE tested positive, he added.

So far, a total of 190 persons have been tested positive for COVID-19 in Balasore district. The number of active cases stands at 39 while one died of the disease. Total 150 cured from the infection in the district till yet.