Hesitancy In COVID Tests Major Cause Behind Hidden Cases: Top Odisha Health Official

Bhubaneswar: Contact tracing of COVID positive cases holds key to contain the spread of the virus.

However, the hidden cases are a worry for now, said Odisha's Director of Health Services, Vijay Mohapatra on Sunday.

Speaking on the COVID situation in Odisha, Mohapatra said that there are many COVID cases which remain hidden from the government due to hesitancy in people coming out for tests. The spread can be contained by identifying and isolating the hidden asymptomatic cases.

“There are many symptomatic individuals too who do not opt for COVID test, spreading infection in the process,” he said.

It was a conscious decision by the government to conduct an integrated surveillance for three months which included dengue cases too. It will continue till August. Apart from this, the active surveillance on COVID is being conducted simultaneously, said Mohapatra.

More than 1 Lakh positive cases have been identified by the active surveillance exercise conducted by ASHA workers.

" It is our main weapon against COVID19," he said.

Mohapatra also spoke about the fate of COVID Care Centres and dedicated Covid hospitals in the State. “We have already forecast for a third wave. So, we are going to keep the COVID hospitals open despite a decline in cases,” he said.

“We are focussing mainly on Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore and Baripada and I am sure we will tide over this pandemic soon,” stated Mohapatra.

Meanwhile, the total number of deaths due to Covid19 in Odisha crossed 5,000 mark as the State confirmed 66 new fatalities due to the virus on Sunday. The death toll has mounted to 5,058.

The Covid positive tally in Odisha also rose to 9,54,326 after as many as 2,215 people tested positive for the virus on Sunday.