Odisha MLA tests Covid positive for third time

Bhubaneswar: BJP MLA from Nilagiri in Odisha’s Balasore district, Sukanta Nayak, has tested positive for Covid-19 for the third time in last 18 months.

Nayak told PTI that he tested positive for the virus on Wednesday and is isolating at home. He had first contracted coronavirus in July 2020 and again in September the same year.

The swab samples of Nayak, who is double vaccinated, has been sent for genome sequencing.

Over 50 MLAs, six MPs and at least 11 ministers in Odisha have been infected in different phases since 2020, PTI reported quoting state health department sources.

The state recorded 10,059 fresh Covid cases on Thursday, as the biggest single-day spike in over seven months pushing the tally to 11.02 lakh.

The death toll has mounted to 8,472 with three more fatalities.