Bhubaneswar: The Covid-19 graph in Odisha is plateauing even as cases are hovering between 10,000 and 12,000 every day.
Renowned health expert Dr Niroj Mishra on Sunday said such situation may continue till next week as it is in plateauing mode.
“Now, the situation in the State is in plateau stage as the Rate of Positivity (ROP) remains around 20%. The daily cases are remaining in such stage irrespective of number of testing,” Mishra maintained.
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The positivity rate may witness a decline from next one week. The daily infections may witness a downward trend by the last week of May or first week of June, he said.
Mishra further predicted the single-day cases to come down to 10,000 after May 31. "The State may heave a sigh of relief in June," he added.
Mishra said the reduction in number of daily cases may get delayed as Odisha had witnessed a surge much after other states saw the spike in cases.
Mishra asked to focus on rural areas as the infection is spreading to villages gradually.
“We will have to give special attention to the situation in rural pockets as the rate of infection is increasing everyday in comparison to urban areas. Absence of proper testing facilities in rural belts also poses a hurdle in getting accuracy in the reports,” he said.
He predicted that the rate of fatalities due to Covid-19 may remain high in rural areas due to lack of awareness and non-adherence to Covid appropriate behavior laid down by the government.
Lack of healthcare infrastructure and awareness may lead to rise in the deaths also in rural belts, he cautioned.
Speaking on the benefits of lockdown, Mishra said the State needs stringent lockdown for two more weeks to arrest the spread.
It would be better if government acted tough on lockdown violators and ensure strict enforcement which yields results in the fight against coronavirus, he added.