Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Thursday reported its second Coronavirus case after one of the 14 samples sent for testing yielded a positive result. The Health and Family Welfare Department of the Odisha government took to Twitter to inform about the second COVID-19 positive case in the state.
According to sources, 14 samples were sent to RMRC Bhubaneswar for testing out of which one came out positive for Coronavirus.
As per the Health and Family Welfare department, the second Coronavirus positive patient has a travel history to a COVID-19-affected country. Soon after the case was detected, steps have been initiated to trace the persons who have come in contact with the patient in due course. The state surveillance unit has initiated contact tracing, the Health and Family Welfare department tweeted.
Earlier a 33-year-old youth was found positive and is undergoing treatment at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar. The youth had returned from Italy on March 12 and subsequently arrived in Odisha on a train from Delhi. After he was tested positive, contact tracing was initiated and it was found out that 129 persons came in contact with the person between the time of his arrival in the country and the results of the test of his samples. Earlier yesterday, his father’s samples tested negative for Coronavirus and the authorities informed that testing of his sister’s samples was not required as per guidelines.
As per data provided by the spokesperson of Odisha government, so far 2,626 persons, who have returned from abroad, have registered for home quarantine. The number includes returnees from over 100 countries and they have reported from all the 30 districts of the state.
To encourage social distancing to contain the spread of the Coronavirus, the State government yesterday had announced that all temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, & other religious establishments in the state will remain closed for public, though rituals will continue as per schedule.