Odisha reports fresh 393 Covid-19 cases, mask mandatory in hospitals

Bhubaneswar: As many as 393 fresh Covid-19 cases were reported in Odisha during the past 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases to 3086, informed the health department on Tuesday.

While 5,421 samples were tested on Monday, 393 were found positive for Covid-19 virus.

The new cases were reported from 24 out of 30 districts of Odisha. Highest 125 new cases were reported from Sundergarh district, followed by Sambalpur (71), Cuttack (65), Mayurbhanj (28), Khurda (27), and Bolangir (21).

On Sunday, the state had reported 502 cases.

With the rising Covid-19 cases in the state, the health department has made wearing of face masks mandatory in all health institutions and close door gathering places.

In an official order, the directorate of public health, Odisha, said it has been decided to make wearing masks mandatory by the employees in health institutions to ensure COVID appropriate behaviour.

The order is applicable to all healthcare providers during duty hours, all officials and others present in the meetings, during congregation of people particularly in close rooms and persons providing clinical/laboratory & other support services in the hospital setting.

Wearing mask is compulsory for people visiting areas having possibility of high transmission and the persons with influenza-like illness.