Bhubaneswar, Mar 31 (IANS): SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha's Cuttack on Tuesday started COVID-19 testing facility as the state government gears up to test more people amid the outbreak of coronavirus.

SCB Medical College is the third testing facility for COVID-19 after Regional Medical Research Center (RMRC) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhubaneswar.

Besides, the Odisha government is taking expeditious steps to start test units at another two medical colleges, informed Subroto Bagchi, state government's chief spokesperson on COVID-19.

So far, 473 samples have been tested while number of positive cases is still three in Odisha, said Bagchi.

Health Minister Naba Kishore Das said the state government will set up COVID-19 hospitals in every district in the state.

He said the department is considering the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to set up COVID-19 hospitals in every district.

Meanwhile, the state government has directed to take stringent action against the misuse of ambulances.

Notably, it was found that some ambulance drivers transported passengers clandestinely.

As many as 209 cases have been registered by the police in the state for different violations of regulations and guidelines related to COVID-19 in last 24 hours.

This include 198 cases for violation of lock down, two cases for violation of home quarantine and nine cases for violation of other issues.