Over 5.43 lakh migrants have returned to Odisha - coronavirus cases set to cross the 4,000 mark

• Odisha has reported 3909 coronavirus positive cases.
• The state government of Odisha led by CM Naveen Patnaik has been proactive in its approach and was one of the first states to announce a complete lockdown.
• The state has recorded three deaths due to coronavirus.

Odisha has 3909 confirmed Coronavirus cases so far.



Over 5.43 lakh migrants have returned to Odisha so far amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said an official on June 14.

As many as 215 Odias stranded in UAE due to the coronavirus pandemic reached Bhubaneswar in a chartered flight on June 14.

As many as 146 more people, including 61 NDRF and ODRAF personnel tested corona positive in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 3,140 in Odisha, said the state health department on Tuesday.

Out of the 146 cases, 127 were detected in quarantine while 19 are local contact cases, the department said.

"Relaxation of lockdown does not mean coronavirus has disappeared. Don't make that mistake. As I had said earlier, the month of June will be the most crucial in our fight against the virus," said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a video message on June 4.

Odisha on May 31 registered its highest single day spike as 129 more persons tested positive for the coronavirus, said the Health Department. Out of the total 129 cases, 119 have been reported from various quarantine centres and 10 are local cases, said IANS.

Odisha is not just dealing with the coronavirus disaster, but also the impact Cyclone Amphan. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is setting up special teams to visit Odisha and West Bengal and assess the damages.

The Odisha government on Monday announced that it will bear the cost of transport of stranded migrant workers arriving by 'Shramik Special' trains if the host state refuses to do so.

The Odisha government has hiked Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol from 26% to 32% and on diesel from 26% to 28%. The retail sale price of petrol at Bhubaneswar will be Rs 71.69 per litre and diesel Rs 67.73 per litre.

On May 6, Odisha reported its second Covid-19 death. A 77-year-old male Covid-19 patient from Madhusudan Nagar in Bhubaneswar, who had underlying comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes and kidney ailment, died on Tuesday at the Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), said the health department.


The first death in the state caused by Covid-19 was reported on April 6 when a 72-year-old man passed away during treatment at the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.


Meanwhile, Odisha is also getting ready for the migrant workers returning to the state. The state government had arranged around 500,000 beds to provide Covid-19 health services in rural areas.

The Odisha government said that around 1.33 lakh migrants had returned to the state. "So far, 1,33,245 Odias have returned through various means, including train, bus, and other vehicles. 55,567 migrants have returned to Ganjam, 11,368 to Balasore, and 8,198 to Cuttack district," said Additional Chief Secretary (Health P.K. Mohapatra.

Subroto Bagchi, Odisha government's spokesperson on Covid-19, said 35,540 Odias had returned to the state by train, bus and other vehicles. Of them, 7,451 Odias returned on Wednesday, he said.

Earlier, before lockdown was extended across the country, Odisha had became the first state to officially extend the lockdown until April 30. In order to boost testing in the state, the government airlifted 4000 Covid-19 test kits through special air cargo from Maharashtra.

Odisha Police DG Abhay on Wednesday instructed the police officers to take strong legal action against persons who are involved in assaulting and misbehaving with doctors, health workers and other medical staff on duty.

Earlier in April, Odisha inaugurated one more hospital in the state capital to tackle the COVID-19 situation. The state government's third facility, a 500-bed hospital with 20 ICU facilities, was inaugurated here on Monday.

The Odisha government had earlier announced deferment in gross salary of Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs and all India service officers as the COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent expenditure have impacted the state economy.

Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs, and chairpersons of all corporations and elected representatives of all local bodies will get 70% less in gross salary.

Meanwhile, a new hostel of a state-run engineering institute in Odisha's Sambalpur district will be converted into a 500-bed hospital for treating COVID- 19 patients, officials said on Tuesday.

In its proactive approach towards tackling the coronavirus pandemic, the state also trained MBBS students for coronavirus.

The Odisha government had earlier announced that it will give street vendors, who have to stay home and are robbed of their income due to coronavirus, ₹3,000 each.

The Chief Minister said around 65,000 registered street vendors will be benefited in the state following the announcement.

The Odisha government has ensured food and shelter for around 5,547 migrant workers from other states who are stranded in Odisha in the wake of the nationwide lockdown to combat the Covid-19 outbreak, an official said on Friday (March 27).

Additionally, the government also announced that it will provide cooked food to people in rural areas.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced four months' advance salary for doctors, nurses and other medical staff who have been engaged 24x7 in the anti-COVID-19 operation.

About 48,000 employees will be benefited from the governments decision.

In another measure, the state government released Covid-19 assistance of Rs 44.5 crore to 30 districts.

CM’s proactive approach

The state government led by CM Naveen Patnaik has been proactive in its approach and was one of the first states to announce a complete lockdown. This includes the plying of interstate buses. The state government also banned a gathering of more than 7 people.


"If you go out - you risk bringing the virus to your family. The administration will take tough action on anyone violating this and risking their lives, their family members and people of Odisha," said Patnaik.


Patnaik is known for his disaster management skills and proactiveness during emergencies. Having seen complete destruction in the super cyclone of 1999, the Odisha government had all preparations in place for Cyclone Phani which resulted in evacuation of millions.


Patnaik has also urged Chief Ministers across the country to help stranded Odias with food, accommodation and security.


"I will be grateful if this message is passed on to all the district collectors of your state.The Odisha government will bear whatever cost is needed for their safekeeping," said the Chief Minister.


Odisha has also set up a seven member unit that will monitor the movement of goods within the state.

See Also:

Coronavirus cases in India state wise

India Helpline number for Coronavirus cases

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