Balasore: A sarpanch in Balasore district has tested positive for the COVID-19. He is one of the 17 fresh COVID-19 cases the district reported Sunday.
The sarpanch who has contracted the disease belongs to Kanchapada panchayat under Simulia block. Along with him, two other villagers from the same panchayat have also tested positive.
Of the 17 cases reported Sunday, nine are from Bhograi block, two from Jaleswar and one each from Baliapal, Nilgiri and Balasore town. All of them except the sarpanch had returned from Surat, Maharashtra or West Bengal. The outstation returnees had been put in quarantine centres.
The district administration has already started procedure to shift the patients from quarantine centres to COVID-19 hospitals. The administration is also preparing a list of people who came in contact with the sarpanch, including his family members. Once done, their swabs will be collected for test. Similarly, other measures like announcement of containment zone are under consideration, sources said.
Sunday, district’s tally of COVID-19 patients went up to 119. Among them, 22 have so far recovered and have been discharged. They all have returned to their respective homes.
PNN