RT-PCR -ve report, vax certs not needed to enter Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: People coming to the state will no longer be required to carry their RT-PCR negative report or certificate to prove that they are fully vaccinated. The state government on Wednesday revoked the rules, which had made it mandatory to ask for RT-PCR negative test reports or final vaccination certificates from people entering the state.
The latest order in this regard was issued by special relief commissioner (SRC) Pradip Kumar Jena. It read, “The entry of people into Odisha from other states by producing rapid antigen/RT-PCR negative reports or final vaccination certificates is hereby withdrawn.”
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), which had set up testing kiosks at the Biju Patnaik International Airport to screen people on their arrival, continued with the tests on Wednesday. It had also set up such counters at the city railway station, which were lifted long ago. Elsewhere at the district-level, the Nuapada administration had put up testing kiosks at the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border checkpoint and also at the railway and bus stands. Migrant labourers were also being screened at the Kantabanji railway station in Balangir until now.
The BMC will issue a separate letter for the removal of the testing kiosks from the airport. The airport authorities have also received a letter from the SRC.
“We have received the SRC order asking for the withdrawal of the testing facilities. From Thursday, no passenger will be screened at the airport on arrival,” a BMC official said.
However, visitors to the malls/restaurants in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri, will have to produce their RT-PCR negative reports or double-dose vaccination certificates to be allowed entry.
However, the implementation of the same remains poor with none asking for the certificates. The customers are also not volunteering to produce the vax certificates.
Twin cities police said they have been making surprise checks and imposing fines on violators. The rule was introduced recently. The police have been asked to make surpise checks at hotels to see whether people at dine-in restaura have vaccination certificates. Penalties are also being imposed.
“In case of vaccine certificates, it is not possible to go to each and every hotel and ask each individual customer. Random checks will go on. However, people need to be conscious,” said twin cities police commissioner Soumendra Priyadarshi.
Social campaigner Biswajit Mohanty said it is contradictory to allow entry of people into Odisha without Covid testing but asking its residents to produce both dose vaccine certificates to enter hotels and malls. One is at a loss to understand how showing vaccine certificates at malls and hotels will be implemented, he commented.