12 villages in Odisha are now coronavirus hotspots

Lalmenta village under Chikiti block was declared as COVID-19 hotspot, by Ganjam administration. This was announced after a crowd of labourers who had returned from Bhubaneswar & visited the Nuapada market to purchase essentials even after they were asked to remain under home quarantine

Sub-Collector SD Bhausaheb and a medical crew arrived at the village shortly after. During their verification, they noticed that 266 labourers who were employed in Bhubaneswar. While a majority were in quarantine, some of the returnees had come in connection with 46 others. Their contact tracing is initiated. Post this, the administration chose to notify the village as a hotspot and sealed its entry and exit points.

12 villages declared containment zones : These villages are Brahmabarada, Chandpur, Maheswarpur, Kothidiha, Khandas, Baliguda, Lankabalisahi, Badaraipada, Bankasahi, Sahapada, Bandhadiha and Deuli.

“People in these villages shall not be allowed to move out of their houses. All shops and markets will be closed, and supply of essential commodities and medicines ensured through separate teams headed by local tehsildar, BDO and medical officer,” stated the order issued by Collector Ranjan Das.