COVID-19 News Updates

The Centre has advised Odisha and the other states to strictly follow a five-fold strategy to curb the spread of Omicron, the new variant of coronavirus. 

Raising the issue of many ventilators supplied by the Centre lying unpacked and unused at some field hospitals, the Centre has asked the states to review immediately and ensure that all PSA oxygen plants, oxygen concentrators and ventilators are installed and functioning.

"This suggests that having repeated exposures to the spike protein allows the immune system to continue improving the antibodies if someone had Covid then been vaccinated," Yang added.

An increase of 1,009 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

The second worst hit country in terms of cases is India (34,656,822 infections and 473,952 deaths), followed by Brazil (22,167,781 infections and 616,251 deaths).

Whether or not a mutation turns out to be milder or more lethal is a matter of chance, he said.

People should remain alert at community-level since children would be at risk in case a surge happens, cautioned Odisha Health Director, Bijay Mohapatra on Wednesday (Dec 8).

As state awaits the genome sequencing reports of 246 foreign returnees, Odisha Public Health Director, Niranjan Mishra, on Wednesday (Dec 8) informed that four persons who have returned from at-risk countries tested positive for Covid-19.

The samples from the foreign returnees have been sent for genome sequencing to trace if they are infected with the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2

Meanwhile top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said that early data on the Omicron Covid-19 variant is a "bit encouraging" and does not indicate a great degree of danger, says.

The second worst hit country in terms of cases is India (34,648,383 infections and 473,757 deaths), followed by Brazil (22,157,726 infections and 616,018 deaths).

A decrease of 1,281 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours, the data showed.

In the backdrop of the Indian Medical Association's warning of a massive third wave of Covid pandemic, people in Odisha have set their eyes on the result of genome sequencing reports of 246 Covid positive patients in the State. 

The results suggest a sub-group of patients who would likely benefit from this therapy, and they highlight the need for additional studies in the development of this therapy.

State Health Services Director Bijay Mohapatra on Tuesday (Dec 7) claimed that till Monday evening, not a single person who has arrived in Odisha from ‘at risk’ countries has tested positive for Covid-19.