The State Government would suggest the Centre for conducting COVID-19 test of migrant labourers hailing from the State who are currently stranded in other parts of the country due to the lockdown, informed Health Minister Naba Kisore Das on Thursday.
“I have a videoconferencing meeting with the Union Health Minister tomorrow. I will suggest him to carry out COVID-19 test of migrant labourers of Odisha stranded in other States before their return to the State post completion of lockdown period,” Das said after participating in an Empowered Group of Ministers’ meeting held through videoconferencing.
The State Government is expecting that nearly 5 lakh people will return to the State from other States after the lockdown is lifted, said an official. The Government is developing a dedicated online portal, through which these people can register for their return. This would begin on Friday (April 24), said Panchayati Raj Secretary DK Singh.
Without registration on the Government portal, no person would be allowed to return to the State. The returnees would be mandatorily quarantined for 14 days. They can’t go to home directly, Singh said, adding that around 7,000 temporary medical camps have been set up at panchayats.