Blink News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 17: The state government has now decided to conduct large scale testing of vulnerable population from the state capital. This will include testing of slum dwellers, health workers and flu patients.
The government claimed that it would be the first such initiative of testing at this large scale ever conducted in any Indian city in the country. Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy on Friday said that the mission has started from today.
As per the plan of the government it will conduct a total of 5000 testing in one week. “In view of 46 cases out of total 60 cases, reported from Bhubaneswar, State Government has made a special action plan for combating COVID-19 in Bhubaneswar. Government has decided to intensify testing and tracing in Bhubaneswar,”
He also said, “It has been decided to test 5000 sample in next one week. It would be highest per million testing amongst the cities of India. As per ICMR protocol, Health & Family Welfare Department of Odisha has made priority category for testing depending on vulnerability,”
As a result of the action plan, Bhubaneswar has been divided into 3 administrative zones and 2 Senior IAS Officers have been designated to oversee intensive sampling of primary and secondary contacts, contact tracing, household survey by the surveillance team in the containment zone and supervising the achievement of the above testing target in Bhubaneswar. The official has appealed to the people of Bhubaneswar to come forward voluntarily for sample testing.