Balasore MLA Sukanta Kumar Nayak belonging to the Bharatiya Janta Party has tested positive for COVID-19. The saffron party MLA developed flu-like symptoms three days ago. After the local doctors suggested the MLA to undergo COVID-19 screening, Nayak took the tests. The swab samples of the legislator were sent for analysis two days ago, and the reports came positive today. Nayak is the first legislator in Odisha to get infected by the deadly coronavirus.
As per Nilagiri sub-collector Harish Chandra Jena, Nayak was admitted to a COVID-19 hospital at Balasore for treatment. “The members of the MLAs family and his close aides have been asked to remain in home quarantine after their swab samples tested negative for the disease. Contact tracing shall be done to collect samples of people who had come in direct contact with the infected person,” he said. Jena urged people not to visit government offices for the time being unless urgent.
All government office premises where Nayak had visited have been placed under observation. The MLA had attended meetings in Bhubaneswar and in his home constituency – Nilgiri assembly, aside from attending a gathering of women self-help groups. He also participated in a meeting at Chhatrapur village and visited numerous places in Balasore.
“Yes, I have tested positive for COVID-19 today,” Sukanta Kumar Nayak told the media.
Considering the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the state, S N Patro, the Odisha Assembly Speaker, has announced the postponement of all scheduled meetings of various committees of the Legislative House.
Balasore district has reported 412 COVID-19 cases, of which 324 patients have recovered from the disease. The number of active cases in the district stands at 86. The total number of cases in Odisha has almost reached the 10,000 mark as of today. So far, 38 people have lost their lives due to COVID-19 in the state.