Bhubaneswar: With COVD-19 positive cases continuing to show an increasing trend, the Odisha government shifted its focus on the people coming from other States and made RT-PCR negative report mandatory for them, apart from a string of other measures.
The government today directed the collectors of 16 districts in the state to set up Temporary Medical Centres (TMCs) to provide quarantine facilities to people coming from other States.
“Collectors of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nawrangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Balasore are authorised to set up and operationalise Temporary Medical Centres (TMCs)/ Cluster Temporary Medical Centres (CLTMCs) as per requirement for providing institutional quarantine facilities for people coming from other States,” the Special Relief Commissioner said in a notification.
The SRC said the expenditure for opening and running of such facilities shall be borne under Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
People coming to Odisha by any public transport like train, bus, aeroplane, or water ways etc. or by any private vehicles have to produce RT-PCR negative reportobtained within 72 hours of entry /final vaccination certificate (after two doses ofvaccination).People coming without such report will have to undergo 7days mandatory Home/Institutional quarantine.
The government has also suspended all public transport from Odisha to Chhattisgarh and vice versa till April 30.
The transport department have been asked to set up Border Check Points (BCPs) at strategic locations/ border entry points to manage entry of incomingpersons/ vehicles.
“Persons coming through the BCPs shall have to produce Final Vaccination certificate/ RT-PCR negative report obtained within 72 hours prior to the entry tothe State or else they will be put in Home/ Institutional quarantine for 7 days,” the notification said.
“The incoming persons shall have to give an undertaking to this effect and submit filledin form containing the name of the person, from where coming, the address ofdestination, Mobile number and alternate contact number,” it added.
The government has further directed all Industries/ Educational Institutions/ Commercial Establishments to ensure implementation of all COVID appropriate behaviour/ protocols and to set up their own isolation facilities i.e Covid Care Centres (CCCs)/ Covid Care Homes (CCHs) for Covid Positive persons found in their Establishments with their own expenses.
All such Institutions shall identify CovidCompliance Officer among their senior staff, who shall ensure the implementationof Covid Compliance Guidelines/ protocols within their premises and submit dailyreport to the Collector/ Municipal Commissioner. If any violation is observed incomplying with Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and protocols, they will be liable tobe proceeded against in accordance with the provisions of section 51 to 60 of theDisaster Management Act, 2005, the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and Regulationsissued thereunder besides legal action under section 1BB of the IPC and other legal provisions as applicable.
All Collectors/ Municipal Commissioners shall have regular meetings with the Industries/ Educational Institutions/ Commercial Establishments within theirjurisdiction to sensitize them to follow Covid appropriate behavior and ensure strictadherence of Covid safety protocols such as wearing of masks, maintaining socialdistancing and provision of thermal scanning & use of hand wash or sanitizer.
All Collectors/ All Superintendents of Police/ All Municipal Commissioners/Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack are hereby directed to ensure the implementation of this guideline.
Any person found violating this order shall be punished under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other relevant laws.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)