Ganjam man’s death takes Covid death toll to 11

Bhubaneswar/ Berhampur: A 50-year-old man died of Covid-19 in Ganjam on Sunday, taking the death toll from the virus in the state to 11. Odisha reported 186 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total count of infected persons to 3,909. Of them, 171 were from quarantine centres and 16 were local cases.
“Regret to report that a 50-year-old male Covid positive patient of Ganjam district passed away while undergoing treatment in hospital.He was suffering from underlying co-morbidities of diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” the health and family welfare department’s update said.
To check the spurt of the Covid-19 cases in Ganjam, the district administration on Sunday extended the lockdown till June 30.
There will be restriction on the movement of people, except medical emergencies and the supply of essential goods and services in Ganjam. People will be allowed to venture out of their homes between 7am and 12 noon for essential purposes as shops will be permitted to open during this period only.
“Total lockdown will be followed in Ganjam from today (Sunday) onwards up to June 30. Till today, there is no community spread of corona in Ganjam. We have to prevent future community spread,” district collector (Ganjam) Vijay Amruta Kulange said. He added, “Before taking this stringent decision, the administration took the feedback of different sections of people in the district, including elected representatives, social activists and others.” The district has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases (684) and six deaths so far.
“More than two lakh returnees, who came here from across the country, mostly hotspots, were put in quarantine. Many of them completed the quarantine period. A further 15-day lockdown will be helpful in deactivating the virus and save many lives,” Kulange said. He added, “During the lockdown, there will be no vehicle movement, unless it is a health-related issue. The district administration has asked people to avoid travelling and crowds. Buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis will not be allowed to ply. Vehicles coming from the railway station and airport will be allowed as per the guidelines. Banks and government offices will function as usual. People are allowed to carry out livelihood projects like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and agriculture-related works.”
Among the 186 fresh cases, the highest (22) cases were reported from Kandhamal followed by 21 from Khurda, 16 each from Kalahandi and Bargarh, 15 from Gajapati, 13 from Mayurbhanj, 12 each from Jajpur and Cuttack, 11 each from Keonjhar and Jagatsinghpur, seven from Puri, four from Ganjam, three from Sundargarh, to each from Jharsuguda, Dhenkanal and Balangir and one each from Bhadrak, Malkangiri, Angul and Kendrapada. Besides, 13 more NDRF, ODRAF and fire service personnel, who had gone to West Bengal after Cyclone Amphan, tested positive on Sunday.
Moreover, Bhubaneswar reported 16 new corona positive cases taking the total number of Covid-19 cases to 122. Of the fresh cases, 14 were reported from home quarantine and two were local cases.
In addition, 114 Covid-19 patients recovered on Sunday of whom 30 patients were from Sundargarh district, 23 from Khurda, 17 from Ganjam, 11 from Cuttack, 10 from Mayurbhanj, eight from Gajapati, five from Bargarh, four from Nayagarh, three from Balangir, one each from Balasore, Koraput and Sambalpur, the health and family welfare department informed.