Odisha reports 2nd coronavirus case; bans large gatherings, orders closure of restaurants

Odisha reported its second coronavirus case on Friday after a man who returned from the UK tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the state government to announce a slew of steps to prevent the spread of the infection, including a ban on large gatherings and closure of bars and restaurants.

The government also requested journalists not to attend the daily press briefing on COVID-19 outbreak and instead take the official feed through WhatsApp, email and other platforms.

A 19-year-old man who returned from the UK has tested positive for coronavirus, the second confirmed case in Odisha, state government's chief spokesperson for COVID-19 Subroto Bagchi said.

He is the son of the medical superintendent of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.

"The health condition of both the COVID-19 cases is stable," Bagchi said.

The second COVID-19 patient returned from the UK on Wednesday and was admitted to the isolation ward at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar on Thursday. His family members have been asked to home quarantine themselves, he said.

The man came in contact with 46 persons after his return from the UK and 43 of them have been identified. Eight teams are now engaged in tracing the remaining three people, he added.

Bagchi said out of the samples of 66 people tested so far in the state, two have tested positive for novel coronavirus, while the results of four are awaited.

Asked about alleged resentment among a section of resident doctors at AIIMS over the senior official's son mingling with others, the spokesperson said, "The state government has given highest priority to this issue. We are reviewing the situation."
When contacted, Director of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, B Gitanjali told PTI, "Yes, I had a meeting with them (resident doctors). An anonymous letter is doing rounds. It is not signed. It is a bogus thing. There is no allegation. The issue is that medical superintendent's (MS) son came from abroad and he had some symptoms."