The Odisha government has imposed travel restrictions for passengers coming from 12 states. Travellers coming from Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh, Karnataka and, Andhra Pradesh must home-isolate for seven days, due to the rising cases in the respective states.
According to official announcements, the state government has made thermal screening a mandatory process for travellers coming from these 12 states.
People with COVID-19 symptoms will be tested immediately on site, and those who test positive will be taken to Covid Care Centres and treated accordingly.
Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, the additional chief secretary to the health and family welfare department said in a statement, &ldquoAll the passengers coming from listed 12 states will remain under mandatory home-isolation for seven days. If during the quarantine period they develop any symptoms, they will be subjected to RT-PCR test. If found positive in RT-PCR test, they&rsquore going to be treated as per the Covid treatment protocol.&rdquo
Keeping in mind the surge in cases and severity of the situation, Mohapatra has written to the directors of Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda airports, district collectors, municipal commissioners, and to the East Coast Railway general manager. The letter stated that all travellers must go under a mandatory thermal screening at airports and railway stations.
He has further added that leniency in lockdown rules might lead to a spike in cases, and that strict protocols and travel restrictions are the need of the hour.