Covid-19 Fourth Wave: Know What Odisha’s Health Services Director Says

The Director, Health Services, Odisha Bijay Mohapatra on Tuesday said it will be too early to predict anything on the fourth wave of Covid-19 as rise and fall in infections is the trend witnessed during a pandemic.

Presently, the State is witnessing a decline in the cases but lack of surveillance and violation of Covid appropriate behaviour may again result in an increase in the cases, said Mohapatra. "If we strictly adhere to the Covid norms, we can stop the rise in Covid cases once again," he said.

Initially, it was believed that around 15 per cent positivity will be among children. It did go up to around 22 per cent, but for a few days. Though children have been affected by the virus, the severity and fatality among them are very less, he added.

He further said that Odisha is likely to be in a better position by next month and hospitalisation rate has also decreased to 8-9 per cent. 

Speaking on the increase in fatalities of late, Mohapatra had earlier stated, “Four to six weeks after the peak period, it is natural to see an increase in the fatalities.”He said around 75 to 76 per cent of total infected patients are on ventilator support. Of them, around 50 per cent run chances of mortality. 

“Yet we can’t ignore the comorbidities of these patients. As per the Supreme Court’s direction, if a patient dies after 30 days of testing positive for the infection, we term the death to have been caused by Covid-19,” Mohapatra added.

Notably, Odisha on Monday had reported 1,497 fresh cases. On Tuesday, the State registered 1,503 cases, a slight increase from Monday. Out of the total cases, 329 cases belonged to 0-18 age group. 

Khordha still continues to top list by reporting the highest number of cases. On Tuesday, the district reported a maximum 333 fresh cases in the State, followed by Sundargarh (157) and Mayurbhanj (108). 

With the fresh addition, the State’s positive tally has gone up to 12,69,811. 

The State also registered 21 fatalities caused by the infection, taking the State’s toll to 8,775. Jajpur and Mayurbhanj reported three deaths each.