Bhubaneswar, May 18 -- Bhubaneswar/Malkangiri: Odisha government has finally buckled up to intensify testing and tracing in rural areas after COVID cases surged significantly in village areas.

The rural areas in the State accounted for 51% of COVID positive cases in April and 57% in May prompting the State government to intensify its COVID regulations in the rural belts.

After chairing an all-party meeting held on Monday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked ASHA workers to conduct door-to-door COVID survey in rural areas for three months, showing concern on an ever growing infection in villages.

AS per the directions, during the drive, anybody with COVID symptoms will be tested and then isolated. Patnaik has urged all the stakeholders ...