Bhubaneswar: After being in the 'Green Zone', Cuttack reported its second COVID-19 positive case on Tuesday. Apart from Cuttack, six more confirmed cases were reported from four other - Jajpur, Balasore, Sundergarh and Ganjam,
With seven new COVID-19 cases, the total tally in Odisha has now reached 176.
It is pertinent to mention here that Cuttack reported its first COVID-19 case over a month back on April 3. A 34-year-old man from Tigiria (Surat returnee) has now tested positive for COVID-19.
Of the seven new cases, three hailed from Balasore and one each from Ganjam, Sundergarh, Jajpur and Cuttack districts.
A total of 3,535 samples were tested for COVID-19 in Odisha on Monday, the highest in a day in the State, the official said. The Health Department has tested 44,663 samples so far.
Jajpur district has reported the maximum number of cases at 53, followed by Khurda 47, Balasore 24, Bhadrak 21 and Sundargarh 12.
Three positive cases have been reported from Ganjam district while two cases each have been reported in Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara, Bolangir, Keonjhar and Kalahandi and one each in Puri, Dhenkanal, Deogarh and Koraput.
Jajpur district has highest 52 active COVID-19 cases, followed by 20 in Balasore and 15 in Khurda district. The total active cases in the State now stand at 115.
As per the Health and Family Welfare department, 60 people have recovered from COVID-19. The state has reported only one coronavirus death - a 72-year-old man from Bhubaneswar who died on April 6.
In another development, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed the Health Department authorities to increase the COVID-19 testing capacity in Odisha to 15,000 per day. The decision was taken at a review meeting held today to assess the current situation of COVID-19 in the State.
The State government also decided to increase loan assistance for farmers and Self Help Groups (SHG) like Mission Shakti. SHGs will be provided extra financial assistance of Rs 2 per meal from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for distributing food to affected people during COVID-19 crisis.