COVID-19: Woman arrested for spreading rumours, Odisha govt warns people

Odisha government on Wednesday said that strict action will be taken against anyone for spreading fake news after a woman was arrested in Bhadrak for doing so. Odisha's COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said that some rumours were being spread after detection of fourth COVID-19 patient.

Any rumour related to COVID-19 is being dealt with severely. This will t be tolerated and strong action will be taken against rumour-mongers. For any fake news, an action shall be taken against persons concerned under IT Act and Epidemic Act, he said. In addition, Commissionerate of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, on Wednesday, registered a criminal case at Malgodown Police Station against a resident of Jobra in Cuttack for spreading fake news.

People engd in spreading fake news are anti-national, Bagchi said. If people fear to report in case y develop symptoms of being infected with coronavirus n y may become super-spreader of virus and cause dam to society, he said. From morning of March 31 to April 1, a total of 219 cases have been registered by police for different violations of regulations and guidelines related to COVID-19, Bagchi said.

A total of 197 cases have been registered for violation of lockdown, nine cases for violation of home quarantine and 13 cases related to or incidents violations, he informed. Giving details of Odishas 4th COVID-19 positive patient, Bagchi said he is a 29-year-old professional working in Dubai.

"He reached Kolkata from Dubai on March 18. From re he travelled alone to Howrah station and from re he boarded a train to Bhadrak, and from Bhadrak station he took an autorickshaw to reach home, he said.

man has been under home quarantine since March 30 and tested positive for COVID-19 on March 31, Bagchi said, adding that patient came in contact with seven persons. He said that states first two persons had come in contact with 55 people, while third patient had come in contacted 112 people.

All persons who had come in contact with COVID-19 patients have been quarantined, he said. Speaking about states overall COVID-19 situation, Bagchi said till Wednesday on, out of a total of 610 samples, four samples tested positive for coronavirus. A total of 88 persons are in isolation in different hospitals, he said, adding that a total of 15,045 persons have registered mselves through online and 104 health Helpline.

Out of se, 4,332 persons came to state from abroad and 10,713 persons from or states. Bagchi also said as many as 6,833 temporary medical centres have been set up in 6,798 gram panchayats. Similarly, state government has also prepared 377 dedicated quarantine centres with a capacity of 32,538 across 114 urban local bodies.