COVID-19: Martyr status for doctors who die in fight, says Naveen Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has called for a ‘Martyr’ status for all health workers who lose their lives fighting against the coronavirus pandemic. The minister has also announced a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh will be given for their families.

In a video message on Twitter, he stated that the entire human race is fighting against coronavirus, which has claimed more than 2 lakh lives across the world, in a span of three months. No continent in the world has been spared and most countries are now in a state of war, with this enemy.

He added that the war is fought by the brave doctors and healthcare workers who are working on the frontline. In the absence of a definitive cure or vaccine, the healthcare workers fighting the war are putting their lives on the front.

As our country has a rich tradition of honouring bravehearts who fight for the nation, the state will treat them as martyrs and will organise a state funeral. The gesture will be done to honour their supreme sacrifice in the fight against COVID-19. The minister said that a detailed set of awards will be instituted to acknowledge their sacrifice and those awards will be given on national days.

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Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also announced Rs 1 crore for the families of health workers who die while treating COVID-19 patients
So far, India has reported more than 18,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 600 deaths. Out of these, over 70 cases were reported from Odisha