Bhubaneswar: A top State health official on Sunday attributed the surge in daily Covid cases to the increase in number of testing while the rise in number of fatalities in the State is caused due to the critically ill patients.
Odisha Health Services Director Bijay Mohapatra said the testing capacity has been increased steadily in the State which is contributing to a surge in the daily infection count.
Similarly, the number of fatalities continues to witness a steady rise which is caused due to more number of seriously ill Covid patients who are being treated at the ICUs in various hospitals, he added.
Around 79% patients are under treatment in the ICU while more than 50% critical patients have been put on ventilator support, he maintained.
Around 80% patients are asymptomatic while 15% infected people have mild symptoms. Similarly, the number of serious patients currently stands at 5%, he said.
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The health official attributed the jump of Covid cases in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to influx of migrants. “People commute to/from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar daily as the twin cities are the settlement places which leads to increase in Covid-19 cases,” he pointed out.
He further informed that the government had issued SoPs for the probable cyclone which is likely to hit Odisha coast between Paradip and Sagar Island by May 26.
As per the SoPs, arrangements are being carried out at the hospitals. The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has directed the Collectors to shift patients to other region if required. Logistical arrangements have been made to ensure uninterrupted electricity and water supply at Covid hospitals during and in the aftermath of cyclone.
Priorities will be given on the strict implementation of Covid SoPs at cyclone centres. People who will be evacuated to the cyclone centers will undergo rapid antigen test before shifting, Mohapatra informed.
“If we observe the figure of last 4-5 days, the rate of positivity seems to be in a static position. The infection is going parallel now in the State,” Mohapatra said.