For Puri Jagannath Temple Visit, Covid Negative Report Mandatory

Pilgrims and tourists, visiting the Jagannath Temple in Puri, from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Kerala need to produce COVID-19 negative certificates

The Jagannath Temple in Puri, which attracts lakhs of pilgrims and tourists, on Tuesday made it mandatory for people from the five states (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Kerala) to produce COVID-19 negative certificates in view of the spiralling cases. According to an official of the district administration, people travelling to the Puri must produce RT-PCR negative report at the railway station and bus stands. Odisha reported 588 fresh COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, pushing the caseload to 3,43,856. The Puri district administration, in a review meeting, also decided that producing certificates of two doses of the Covid vaccine will also be accepted. "We have made a negative RT-PCR test report (72 hours before start of journey) mandatory for people coming to Puri from these five states. The final vaccination certificate will also be verified," Puri District Magistrate, Samarth Verma said. Special arrangements have been made at the railway station for COVID-19 testing of passengers from the five states, Mr Verma said. Those who test positive will either undergo home isolation or institutional quarantine. Out of the new coronavirus cases, Khurda district reported the highest number of 105 infections. Sundergarh (84), Kalahandi (64), Jharsuguda (31), Cuttack (30) and Nuapada (29) are among the badly hit districts.