Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to ramp up Covid testing in the state amid reports of pneumonia outbreak in China.

The recent surge in Covid cases in several countries across the Globe including the US, the UK, France, Malaysia, Australia and Philippines has also forced the Odisha government to raise its surveillance regarding the respiratory disease, said a source in the Health department.

“We will ramp up Covid testing in Odisha. All districts have been directed to raise surveillance in the wake of recent pneumonia outbreak in China. We will send the samples to the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) in Bhubaneswar if there is detection of any abnormal virus,” said Director of Public Health Niranjan Mishra.

Mishra, however, revealed that no abnormal virus has been detected in India yet.

“The Chinese authorities have confirmed that there is nothing abnormal regarding the recent pneumonia outbreak in their country. However, the Centre has asked us to intensify our surveillance and make necessary arrangements to deal with any eventuality,” said the Director of Public Health.

People in Odisha should not get panicked over the pneumonia outbreak in China. There are reports that there is nothing unusual regarding the respiratory disease, he added.