Gajapati Maharaja of Puri DibyaSingha Deb and his family members on Tuesday went into self home isolation for novel coronavirus after return from a tour of the US.Gajapati Maharaj, who is also considered as the first servitor of Lord Jagannth, registered online in the state governments COVID-19 Registration Portal and will remain at their Bhubaneswar residence in isolation for the next 14 days, a statement issued by his Office said.The state government had on Monday issued an advisory asking people coming to the state from abroad to register himself/herself mandatorily in the toll free number 104 or the online portal. https://covid19.odisha.gov.in.Chief Secretary A K Tripathy had said this should be done within 24 hours of arrival with basic details and phone numbers. However, advance registration before arrival will be highly preferable.Also referred as the "Thakura Raja" (Lord Jagannaths king), Puri Gajapati Maharaja is the only royal family member entitled to worship inside the 12th century shrine.Deb and his family members had returned to Odisha on March 15 after attending several programmes in Shree Jagannath Temples in various cities of USA. They are taking all precautions for maintaining good health in view of the coronavirus, the statement said.He has appealed to everyone arriving in Odisha on or after March 4 following travel from abroad to immediately register in the governments COVID-19 Registration Portal and remain in home quarantine for at least 14 days while taking all precautions as advised by the government, the statement added.Meanwhile, deputy chairman of State Planning Board Sanjay Dasburma said his son, who returned from London on Mondayt, has gone into self quarantine."My son is in home isolation though he has no such symptoms. I appeal to people to report the government on their foreign visit and go by the protocol set by the state government to prevent COVID-19 disease, Dasburma said in a video message.Young IAS officer R Vineel Krishna, director of sports department,on Tuesday also voluntarily went for home isolation after return from a foreign trip."I have no such symptoms, but registered my name with the government portal as suggested by the administration. I am in home isolation for 14 days," he said in a video message.The Odisha government's spokesperson on novel coronavirus Subroto Bagchi appreciated the gestures of the Gajapati Maharaja and others.
