The eleven persons who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Barbil Municipality had come in contact with an infected BJP leader.
According to reports, a local BJP leader had held a meeting at Barbail a few days back. The leader tested positive for the virus later in Bhubaneswar. Thus, swab samples of about 50 persons, who had come in contact with him, were sent for Covid tests. Test results of 11 of them came positive on Saturday.
To prevent further spread of virus, Keonjhar district Collector Ashish Thakre has declared a seven-day shutdown in the municipality from 5 am on July 6 to 5 am on July 13.