Bhubaneswar: The sudden spike in the daily Covid-19 cases on Monday set alarm bells ringing in government corridors in the State as top officials huddled into emergency meeting to review and assess the pandemic situation amid fears of a second wave knocking on the doors of the State.
Emerging out of a review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said that already the Director General (DG) Of Police has instructed SPs at district-levels to strictly enforce Covid-19 guidelines in market places, malls and other commercial establishments across the State.
“Already restrictions have been clamped for Holi and Dola Purnima. The State government is reviewing all aspects and so far no decision on night curfew has been taken. We do not want to unnecessarily clamp restrictions but if situation needs, we will take an appropriate call,” said Jena.
Jena further informed that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will review the overall Covid-19 situation in the State tomorrow for a calibrated response.
As per the official data, 146 new Covid-19 cases had been reported in the past 24 hours from different parts of the State. What is more alarming is the fact that 20 more cases were reported from XIMB later during the day, talking the total positive cases at the institute to 45.
Jena further said that already surveillance measures have been augmented and a close watch is being maintained on the Covid-19 situation in the State.
The SRC said that even though 45 new cases were reported from XIMB, all of them had travelled to Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu recently.
The detection of the large number of cases from the institution has prompted the authorities of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to seal the campus located in the heart of the Capital City to prevent any further spread of Covid-19.