Odisha s COVID-19 telemedicine helpline to start from Wednesday

Bhubaneswar, Apr 7 () After setting up sevendedicated COVID-19 hospitals with 1,497 beds for treatingpatients, the Odisha government on Tuesday said itstelemedicine helpline would become operational from 11 am onWednesday, officials said.

People can dial 14410 to get free of cost consultationon the highly infectious disease by sitting at their houses.

The people need not run to a hospital unless it isurgent and can consult experts through the helpline, theofficial said.

This is a completely free service and anyone with anysymptoms of COVID-19 like cough, fever, tiredness andbreathing difficulty can call the helpline, the in-chargeofficer of the telemedicine helpline, Krishna Kumar, said.

Kumar said more than 300 doctors have responded toChief Minister Naveen Patnaiks appeal and given their consentto serve the people through the helpline.

These doctors hail from within the state and outside,he said, adding that the helpline will operate round theclock.

More than 300 Doctors have already come forward toprovide their services voluntarily in this fight againstCOVID-19 by registering themselves atwww.bit.ly_IndiaTeleMed, Kumar said.

Earlier, the state government had set up sevendedicated COVID 19 hospitals in different parts of the statefor the treatment of coronavirus patients.

The government has already kept 1,497 beds ready forthe COVID-19 patents.

Odishas COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi in anorder said the general public has been directed to cover theirmouth and nose with any available form of mask while steppingout of their houses for any purpose.

A handkerchief or any other piece of cloth in atleast layers can also be used for the purpose. The stategovernment has issued an order in this regard which shall takeeffect from 7 am of April 9, he said.

A draft advisory for using cloth masks is alsoavailable in the official website of the Health & FamilyWelfare Department, Bagchi said.

Bagchi also said the police have registered 245 caseswhile enforcing lockdown and other guidelines between April 6morning and April 7 morning.

Out of the 245 cases, 228 cases are related toviolation of lockdown norms, 3 cases for violation of homequarantine, 5 cases for rumour-mongering and 9 for otherissues.

The police has arrested a total of 366 peopleviolations of lockdown norms during this period, Bagchi said. AAMSBN SBN