Katikata in Jajpur district has become a COVID-19 hotspot in Odisha

Bhubaneswar:2/5/20: One more person was tested COVID-19 positive in Jajpur district today taking the total tally of positive cases in Odisha to 157, informed the Information and Public Relations department.

Katikata in Jajpur district has become a COVID-19 hotspot in the State because people violated quarantine advice, informed State Health Secretary, Nikunja Bihari Dhal.

Addressing a scheduled press meet at Geeta Govinda Sadan here this evening, Dhal said that” Katikata has emerged as a hotspot of COVID-19 in Odisha with as many as 21 positive cases. He state that five persons in the area having travel history to West Bengal were tested COVID-19 positive and subsequently their other contacts were also infected with the deadly virus.

The new positive case is a 62-year-old male patient from Bari block of Jajpur district and a Kolkata returnee. He was Asymptomatic and remained in quarantine, the I&PR dept stated. Earlier, today two persons from Bari block were tested COVID-19 positive and prior to that five persons from Jajpur were also found positive. All were Kolkata returnees and asymptomatic. With this, the total COVID-19 positive cases in Jajpur district went up to 48.

“The situation became critical in the area after people flouted quarantine norms and continued to move freely in the area infecting others. So far, 630 samples have been collected from the area that has become a new hotspot,” said Dhal.

Further, the State Health Secretary, informed that all precautionary measures have been taken to prevent further spread of the disease in the area having more than 4000 population.