COVID transmission again on rise in Odisha: Top health official

Bhubaneswar: Transmission of COVID-19 is again on the rise in the state, though situation not alarming, said Director of Health Service Bijay Mohapatra here today.

Speaking to medoapersons, the official further said, “We are following the previous strategies to check further spread of the virus. Surveillance and COVID vaccination have been intensified across the state. Besides, door-to-door testing will begin tomorrow. Those to be found positive will undergo isolation.”

As per the data shared Information and Public Relation (I&PR) Department, the state had reported 51 daily positive cases yesterday while 46 infection were reported today. Currently, the state has 267 active cases.

On vaccination, Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi said about 29 lakh  people in the state have not been vaccinated for the second dose till yet. Moreover, about 40% health workers have not taken the precaution dose. Only 20% frontline warriors have received the booster dose.

“Around 96 % of those aged above 18 years, 91 % children in 12-14 years age group and 80 % kids aged between 15 and 17 years have received the first dose. Door-to-door inoculation as part of ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ Abhiyan’ has begun in the state to expedite vaccination drive in the state. Under the programme, launched on June 1, over 1.46 lakh people have been inoculated so far,” the official informed.

Currently, the vaccination drive is underway at 2,277 centres across the state.