By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 30, 2020: Even as Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sought cooperation of citizens to help the migrant labourers and students from Kota in Rajasthan returning home, the state on Thursday reported 14 new COVID-19 cases taking the tally to 142.

Odisha has had initial success in containing the spread of COVID-19. But all the new cases, which included two 3-year-old children and an 85-year female, were reported from the Jajpur district. They had West Bengal connection.

So far, 36 Covid-19 cases have been detected in the Jajpur district, the second highest in the state after Bhubaneswar, which has reported 47 cases.

The new cases, reported from the Katikata containment area, were asymptomatic and had West Bengal connection, said the Information and Public Relations Department. The contact tracing and follow-up action were being done, it added.

The state government will soon bring the migrat labourers from Gujarat and Maharashtra and students stranded at Kota in Rajasthan. Everyone coming back will be registered and kept in compulsory quarantine, the Chief Minister said on Wednesday.

According to reports, the Odisha Government is gearing up for the return of an estimated five lakh people who are stuck in other states due to the lockdown. From some places like Surat, some labourers have already started their journey back home. The state government says it is ready to make arrangements for those returning home with several COVID-19 hospitals being set up in districts. The government has also set up a WhatsApp information desk on COVID-19 to share details about containment measures.

With 14 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, Odisha’s tally has increased to 142.
The number of active cases in the state is 102, 39 have been cured of the infection and one died.