Bhubaneswar, Jan 7: Sudden and exponential increase in Covid-19 cases in the State, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has directed to conduct random RTPCR tests of passengers arriving at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in the city.
Modifying its previous orders, the BMC on Friday asked the concerned officials to carry out random RTPCR test of passengers who are not in a possession of RTPCR report conducted 72 hours prior to the boarding of the flight.
The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to a medical facility of the BMC. All other stipulations will continue to be in force until further order, the notification read.
De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing, the BMC order stated. Meanwhile, BMC has also decided to deploy a number of teams at the railway station to screen the travellers. Moreover, the civic body has decided to scale up the testing to 10,000 per day in the Capital City.
“All efforts will be made to conduct 10,000 tests per day. Special arrangements have been made at the airport to conduct Covid-19 test the passengers. Similarly, we have made arrangements to screen passengers at railway station,” said additional District Urban Public Health Officer (ADU-PHO) Antaryami Mishra.
Notably, the Covid-19 infection in Odisha crossed 2500-mark for the time in 2022 with 2,703 cases, including 409 children in 0 to 18 years age group, in the last 24 hours.
Similarly, the death toll due to Covid-19 has climbed to 8,468 in the State with one more death reported from Khordha district.
