Sri Subroto Bagchi, Chief Spokesperson of Govt. of Odisha on COVID-19 briefed the Press about steps taken by Government of India and Government of Odisha in light of prevention of COVID-19.

Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik has expressed his gratitude to
the people of Odisha for giving wholehearted support to ‘Janata Curfew’
and has appealed for similar cooperation from the people of Odisha for
the ‘Lock Down’.
 He informed that Railway Board has declared closure of all Passenger
Trains with immediate effect and up to midnight of 31st March. The
trains enroute shall be allowed to reach their destination.
 He further informed that all interstate bus operation to and from Odisha
will remain suspended till further orders. Inter-state buses coming from
other states will not be allowed to reach their destination in Odisha after
11AM on 23/03/2020. Similarly no inter-state bus will be allowed to
operate to other state from Odisha after 11AM on 23/03/2020.
 Government of Odisha has constituted a State level Monitoring Unit on
Goods & Services. The Committee shall assess requirements and monitor
flow of goods and take actions to remove bottlenecks if any. It shall also
create a platform to facilitate traders and transporters to air their issues
and resolve the same.
 There shall be no restriction on movement of Permitted Goods including
coal and other minerals to ensure smooth supply chain. All Permitted
Goods vehicle shall be allowed to move unhindered.
 Wholesale markets shall function 24X7 on rotation basis with time
slotting for different wholesalers to operate to avoid over-crowding in the
market.
 Field functionaries of Food Supply & Consumer Welfare department,
Police and Transport department have been instructed to ensure smooth
movement of vehicles carrying permitted goods as per the Lockdown
order no. 8709 dated 21.03.2020 of Health & Family Welfare
Department.
 SANJOG Help-line Toll Free number (155335) shall be utilised for
registering and addressing all grievances by traders / Shopkeepers /

Wholesalers who face any problem relating to smooth supply / movement
of Permitted Goods traffic. This shall function from morning to night in
two shifts.
 As on 12 noon today, 76 samples were sent for test and reports of all the
samples have been obtained. All found negative.
 Health of 02 identified patients’ remains stable.
 It is reported that 56 persons had contact with the patient. Communication
has been made with 53 persons while effort is on to communicate rest 03
persons.
 09 nos of monitoring teams are working for the purpose.
 3474 persons have been registered through 104 Helpline.
 28 persons are in Hospital Isolation.
 Purighat Police has registered an FIR against a person under Home
Quarantine for not following advice and indulging in risky behaviour.
The identity of the person is not disclosed to protect his privacy.
 All the Sports Hostels under the Administrative Control of the Sports and
Youth Services Department have been closed from 23rd March to 5th
May. The inmates will be given food expenses and allowances for this period and will be paid travelling expenses for safe return to their home.