With two days remaining for the partial lockdown restrictions to culminate, the big question remains whether the Odisha government will continue with the present measures in districts still witnessing high Covid cases in its next unlock move.
The Chief Professor at the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) CBK Mohanty on Monday said, “We are closely monitoring the Covid trend in the State. If spike in Covid cases is witnessed in some districts, there is no question of lifting partial lockdown restrictions. Similarly, if there is a significant drop in daily cases, steps will be taken for some relaxations in those districts.”
However, everything depends on the overall Covid-19 situation at district-levels in the State, he said.
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There is no uniformity in the Covid-19 graph in the country or elsewhere in other parts of the world, the DMET chief said. Few districts in the State are witnessing a declining trend in the daily Covid cases for some days and subsequent rise afterwards.
As there is a movement of migrant population in large and costal districts including Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Balasore, it is attributing to the spike in Covid cases.
The Health department officials are focusing on four to five districts where the Covid-19 graph is high.
“We are hopeful that the Covid graph will come down as every possible step is being taken to create awareness among people. All possible steps are being taking for early testing, tracking, treatment and containment measures by the State government,” said Mohanty.
Mohanty further said that the unlock decision will be based on several parameters including TPR, behaviour of people and compliance to Covid protocols, among others.
Mohanty further said the individual in Deogarh who was detected with the Delta plus variant has already recovered. A detailed investigation is underway to ascertain whether there is Delta plus variant infection in others who came in his contact, he said.
“A team had visited the spot and their report will be reviewed. As the person has already recovered, we are now concerned how and whether he has spread the virus to others. However, in the last one month, the Test Positivity Rate in Deogarh district is under control,” said Mohanty.