Bhubaneswar:14/5/20: The testing of swab samples for COVID-19 up to 15, 000 on a daily basis in Odisha, informed State Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das.
Addressing the media here on Thursday, soon after a high-level meeting, Health Minister Naba Das said the ICMR has given the go-ahead to private laboratories in the state to perform the tests.
The Odisha Health Minister said the increase in COVID-19 sample testing is being done at the behest of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the benefit of the state.
The Minister said the required RT-PCR, COBAS, BSL2 Lab, 100 Truenet Machine, RT-PCR Test Kits, and RNA Test Kits will soon be availed from OSMCL.
Das said chewing of paan, gutkha, and other saliva producing intoxicants must be banned and added that stringent action should be taken against the violators who use such products.
The minister further said that those who have tested negative should be allowed to remain on home quarantine.
The government must take measures to bring back migrant labourers stranded in other states. The SOP on guidelines must be strictly followed, he added.