By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 14, 2020: The number of COVID-19 positive cases in Odisha rose to 60 on Tuesday with the addition of four more positive cases from Bhubaneswar.

A health department release said, three positive cases are from Bomihkal area and one is from Jharpada area. Earlier, one COVID-19 case was reported from Jajpur district.

These new cases include a 51-year-old male from Jharpada, one 50-year-old-male, one 75-year-old male and a 51-year-old woman from Bomikhal area of Bhubaneswar.

A total of 18 persons have recovered while one died of the disease. The total active cases in the state stand at 41, the department said.

Expressing satisfaciton over the containment of the COVID-19, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday and said that the number of new novel coronavirus infections was on the decline.

“I am pleased to see that the coronavirus [infection] statistics are levelling in the State and going down,” said Mr. Patnaik at a high level meeting attended by top State government officials and the Director General of Police through video conferencing. “That’s a very good sign,” he added.

The Chief Minister also thanked all those responsible for the containment of the pandemic in the State.

The first case was reported in the State on March 15 when a student who returned to Bhubaneswar from Italy had tested positive for COVID-19.

The State had then added 15 new cases on April 3 followed by 18 fresh cases on April 5. There has not been a double-digit jump thereafter.

While Odisha has already made operational as many as 20 COVID-19 hospitals, another 15 hospitals are expected to be ready soon, according to officials.

Patnaik further said that movement of essential and non-essential goods would continue to be allowed during the extended lockdown period. The movement of both essential and non-essential goods was not stopped in the State since the lockdown began last month.

Mr. Patnaik also directed the State police to ensure smooth movement of agricultural products in the remaining days of the lockdown.