Ramakanta Biswas

Sundargarh district of Odisha continues to witness a massive surge in the number of Covid-19 cases prompting the district administration as well as the police department to tighten restrictions and enforcement activities to stem the spread of the virus.

The district accounts for the second highest number of fresh coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours after Khordha. Of the total 3679 new infections the State added in the past one day, Sundargarh contributed to 582 cases while Khordha logged 1223 infections.

In view of the rapid spike in infections, the police administration has stepped up surveillance in Rourkela city to ensure strict adherence of public to Covid safety protocols while also penalising violators of mask rules at major junctures in the city. The cops are also advising people in crowded places to maintain social distancing in order to control the virus outbreak.

On the other hand, sanitisation drives have been undertaken in different areas under the jurisdiction of Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC). 

Inspection activities have also been intensified by the district administration in bordering areas like Birmitrapur and Telijor of Balisankara with strict vigil on visitors entering the district from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. 

RMC deputy commissioner Sudhanshu Bhoi said the civic body has constituted five teams to oversee Covid guidelines enforcement and stringent action against the violators of safety protocols. 

“We have begun sanitising public places while the RRT (rapid response teams) are attending to the positive persons. The teams are sensitising people who contracted the virus about home isolation guidelines. Besides, we will shortly start distributing medicines to the infected patients,” Bhoi said.

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