Odisha Government Issues Fresh Guidelines To Avoid Rise In COVID-19 Cases In The State

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government on Sunday (February 22) issued guidelines to ensure strict implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols in view of a fresh spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in some states, fear of new variants and complacency in people for observing the basic safety protocols. District and Police authorities were advised to check and ensure strict observance of COVID-19 safety protocols such as the mandatory wearing of masks, maintaining physical distancing in all public places including workplaces and educational institutions.

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Public awareness through loudspeaker announcements is to be made frequently in all market places, haat and other places. Concerned authorities of Government and private offices/institutions including educational institutions shall be responsible for due compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocols in their respective establishments, said the guidelines issued by the Office of Special Relief Commissioner.

The guidelines also stated that large congregations must be avoided and concerned officials should ensure that more than the permitted number of people are not there at the gatherings.

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Adequate and strict sanitation measures are to be maintained in schools, colleges, other educational institutions and Anganwadi Centres. The teachers and concerned authorities shall ensure observance of COVID-19 safety protocols such as the mandatory wearing of mask, maintaining physical distancing and provision of thermal scanning & hand wash or use of sanitiser by the students, teachers, staff and others, read the guidelines.

They also said that any person found with COVID-19 symptoms must be immediately reported to the nearest health institution and necessary further action be taken as per the advice of the health authorities. The guidelines further said that only curricular activities will be allowed in educational institutions and added that hotels, restaurants and dhabas must be closely monitored by the police authorities so as to ensure strict compliance of physical distancing norms and other safety protocols.

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Strong penal action shall be taken against the persons violating the COVID-19 guidelines. Commercial establishments found violating such norms may be sealed and action as per law be taken against such violators, it said.

The district authorities have also been asked to submit a weekly report on enforcement measures to the Special Relief Commissioner every Monday.

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.