Bhubaneswar, Jul 2 (IANS): The death toll due to COVID-19 in Odisha has increased to 27 as two more patients succumbed to the deadly virus, informed the health department on Thursday.

The two deaths were from Ganjam and Angul districts. Both the patients died while undergoing treatment in Covid hospitals.

"Regret to inform of the deaths of two Covid-19 positive patients, 49-year-old male of Ganjam district and 57 year old male of Angul district, while under treatment in hospital," said the department.

Meanwhile, 229 persons tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours taking the total number to 7,545 in the state.

Of the total fresh cases, 193 have been detected from different quarantine centres while remaining 36 are local contacts.

The number of active cases in the state stands at 2,157 while 5,353 patients have recovered so far.

Due to rising Covid-19 cases in the state capital, the state government has restricted the entry of visitors to the state secretariat.

All the passes issued to visitors for Lok Seva Bhawan, Kharavel Bhawan, Krushi Bhawan and Rajib Bhawan have been temporarily suspended, said the home department.

Any request for entry of outsiders and for such pass holders will only be entertainment on the request received from the office of the Secretaries of the concerned Department to the Special Secretary of the Home department.