States »EasPosted at: May 19 2021 7:18PM

Pradhan appeals Odia society to make covid testing a mass movement

Bhubaneswar, May 19 (UNI) Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
today appealed to the Odia society to make covid testing a mass movement against the
pandemic
In a video message, Mr Pradhan said people in Odisha are not coming forward for testing
due to fear and misconception about Covid.
To motivate the people to go for testing is not the job of the government only, rather it is the responsibility of the society and all of us, he said.
Mr Pradhan appealed to all brothers and sisters of odisha and the senior citizens to join the
campaign to make testing a mass movement to combat covid pandemic.
The Union Minister said the entire country including Odisha is badly affected by the second
wave of Corona. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advised to chalk out strategy to increase
testing, tracing and treatment to bring Coronavirus under control.
Mr Pradhan said in Odisha the testing rate in 23 districts of the state is less than the national
average.
As per the data available so far in May on an average while 146 people per lakh are being
tested in the country in Odisha till May 17 last on an average 120 people were tested per lakh
during the last 17 days.
While the average testing rate per lakh in Kerala is 390 it is 417 in Delhi.
Mr Pradhan said the positivity rate in 14 districts of the state including Sambalpur, Angul,
Baragarh, Sundergarh and Kalahandi is higher than the national average.
He said there is need to increase testing to contain the covid pandemic in the state.
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