Bhubaneswar, Feb 1 (IANS): The Odisha government on Friday constituted a task force for the management of suspected coronavirus cases and to take steps to ensure the prevention of the spread of the infection in the state.

The high-level task force has been constituted under the chairmanship of Special Secretary (public health), an official said.

The state health department has sent blood and swab samples of four persons, who had returned from China after January 15, to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for tests.

They have been kept in home isolation. They will be kept under supervision for the next 14 days, said the official.

Notably, a medical student from Kandhamal district, who returned from China recently, has been referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after showing coronavirus-like symptoms on Friday. The case will be confirmed after he undergoes medical examination at the hospital.