Odisha MLA tests positive for COVID-19; speaker suspends meetings of all assembly committees

BJP MLA Sukanta Kumar Nayak tested positive for coronavirus on Monday, becoming first legislator in Odisha to get infected by COVID-19, officials said on Monday.

MLA from Nilgiri assembly constituency will be mitted to a COVID-19 Hospital in Balasore, y said.

"Yes, I have tested positive for COVID-19 today," he told PTI over phone.

Nayak h attended some meetings in his constituency and was also present at funeral of ex-MLA from Balasore Man Mohan Dutta, he said.

In view of rising number of COVID-19 cases across state, Odisha Speaker S N Patro has anunced suspension of all scheduled meetings of various committees of House.

Nayak h attended meetings in Bhubaneswar and in his home constituency apart from participating in a garing of women self-help groups (SHGs).

He also took part in a meeting at Chhatrapur vill.

A senior officer of Balasore district said a contact-tracing exercise is underway to identify people with whom Nayak h been in close contact.

Balasore district sub-collector Harischandra Jena said his office is being sanitised as MLA h visited place two days ago.

He appealed to people t to visit government offices for time being unless very urgent.

Balasore district has reported 412 COVID-19 cases, of which 324 patients have recovered from disease. number of active cases in district stands at 86.

Mentioning that both Ministry of Health and Odisha Health Department have cautioned that month of July would be crucial in tackling COVID-19 crisis, speaker said decision to suspend assembly committee meetings has been taken keeping in mind rising number of coronavirus cases across state.

Meetings of several standing committees of House were held last month, he said.

Replying to a question, speaker said, " Monsoon Session of Assembly was supposed to be held in August end or September. We will act in accordance with decision to be taken by both Centre and state government." Criticising speaker's action in suspending meetings, BJP chief whip Mohan Majhi said, "re is need to suspend assembly committee meetings as y are attended by 10-12 members. This could have been done through video conferencing."