The Odisha Chief Minister on July 21 announced the retirement age of doctors under Odisha Medical and Health Services (OHMS) cadre and allopathic medical officers under the Labour and ESI Department is being enhanced from 62 years to 65 years.

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He made the announcement while reviewing the COVID-19 situation in Khordha and Cuttack districts. More than one lakh people have returned to the two districts from outside the state. However, despite the large influx of migrants, the situation is under control with recovery rate of 70 percent in Khordha and 71 percent in Cuttack, which is much above the national average of 63 percent. "I appreciate the teams in both these districts for achieving higher recovery rates," said the Chief Minister.

The government sanctioned Rs 20.64 crore from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) for running of new dedicated COVID hospitals and COVID Care Centres, for next three months, in Khordha and Cuttack. It also sanctioned Rs 15 crore to each district from the CMRF for strengthening COVID management.

In capital Bhubaneswar, which comes under Khordha district, a 150-bed (including 30 bed ICU) dedicated COVID facility by Aditya Ashwini Hospitals and a dedicated COVID Hospital in Nilanchal Hospital with 126 beds (15 of them ICU beds) will come up. In Cuttack district, 925 additional beds in COVID hospitals and COVID Care Centres are being set up. He also appealed to all the community organisations and corporates to join the fight against COVID-19 and set up COVID Care Homes and COVID Care Centres.