Cyclone Yaas: Covid-19 testing, vaccination suspended in three Odisha districts

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Monday instructed collectors of Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts for suspension of ongoing activities of Covid-19 testing, vaccination and door-to-door Covid-19 survey from Tuesday to Thursday in view of the disruption expected to be caused by the upcoming cyclone Yaas.
For the districts of Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Keonjhar, the collectors concerned will decide on suspension of these activities in the areas affected or likely to be affected by the cyclone, said PK Mohapatra, additional chief secretary (health) in a letter to the collectors of six districts.
Mohapatra in a different letter instructed district collectors, commissioner of municipal corporations and chief district medical and public health officers to arrange for rapid antigen test (RAT) of the workmen deployed at the restoration sites or labour camps within your jurisdiction on priority basis.
Electricity distribution network may suffer heavy damage due to cyclone Yaas. About 10,000 to 12,000 people have been mobilised by TPCODL and TPNODL for post-cyclone restoration of the electricity distribution network. The test is needed to prevent Covid infection among these workmen so that the restoration work will go on smoothly, said Mohapatra.
Meanwhile, office of the Special Relief Commissioner has issued an order prohibiting the use of generator sets for private purposes from 6am to 6pm as the back current from the generator may endanger the lives of electrical workers engaged in repair or restoration of electrical supply lines/infrastructure during and after the cyclone. Government will take action against the violators.
It is seen that people use generator sets for private purposes in the aftermath of the cyclone or other disaster when the electrical infrastructure is damaged. This sometimes causes back current flow to the supply lines which may endanger the lives of electricians doing repair/restoration works of electrical systems.
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