Odisha to set up Covid care homes in each panchayat

BHUBANESWAR: Anticipating a huge burden on hospitals due to rising cases of coronavirus infection, the state government on Wednesday decided to establish Covid care homes in each panchayat and large urban slums. Patients with suspected symptoms will be temporarily admitted in such homes till they are tested for the virus.
“As a new strategy to fight coronavirus, I would like to announce that in every panchayat we will establish Covid care home facility. Ten to 20 persons can stay in each facility,” chief minister Naveen Patnaik said in a statement released by his office. “The 6798 panchayats across the state will have facility to accommodate 70,000 people,” it further added.
The statement said people with cough, cold and fever do not need to directly go to the hospital. They will be brought to the Covid care homes where their samples will be collected and sent for test. Those found positive may be sent to Covid care hospitals while others may continue taking treatment in the care homes or return to their residence depending on their health condition.
“Sarpanches will be in-charge of the Covid care homes in villages and ward officers in urban areas. They will be given administrative and financial powers for the same,” the government added. The Gaon Kalyan Samitis (village-level committees) in rural areas and ward-level committees in urban areas will monitor people for their health conditions and help bring those with symptoms to the homes.