The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appointed five nodal officers for the smooth conduct of Covid-19 Sero survey under its jurisdiction scheduled on August 31 and September 1.
The exercise is part of the State-level Serological surveillance being undertaken by the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar in 12 districts of Odisha from August 29.
According to an order issued by the BMC, five officers have been nominated as nodal authorities for Ward No 8, 15, 32, 41 and 63 in response to a letter by the Director of ICMR-RMRC, Bhubaneswar requesting support for the ‘Odisha State Covid-19 Sero survey in Bhubaneswar.
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The nodal offices will ensure mobilization of 200 persons among various age groups, including children for the survey on the dates assigned against the wards.
In addition, they will co-ordinate with the Sero survey team for its successful completion, the BMC order said, adding ‘this order comes in to force with immediate effect.’
It may be noted that the RMRC began the survey on August 29 in Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Khordha, Puri, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur in order to estimate and compare the age-specific prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general population and health care workers across the State.
Speaking about the exercise as well as the preparedness of the State government for possible third wave of Covid-19, Health Minister Naba Kishore Das on Sunday said, "70 percent Sero survey has been completed in the State and all hospitals are ready with required beds and necessary medicines to meet the challenges of a third wave if it breaks out."