As the entire nation is grappling with the recent surge in COVID-19 and Omicron cases, the registration process on CoWIN app for slot booking of precautionary 3rd dose of COVID vaccine has commenced on Sunday.
As per reports, double dose vaccinated individuals will be able to book slots on CoWIN app and get inoculated with the 3rd dose of the COVID vaccine as per the registered date.
As informed by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, the 3rd dose of jabs will be administered from 3pm to 6pm from Monday onwards. However, individuals booking for 3rd dose will have to produce the certificate of 2nd jab at the vaccination centre. Moreover, the gap between the precautionary dose and 2nd dose must be 9 months.
COVID frontline warriors, health workers, senior citizens and co-morbid patients have been included in the first phase of the inoculation drive.
Meanwhile, the State Director of Health Services, Dr. Bijay Mohapatra has clarified that of the 14 persons detected with Omicron variant in Odisha reported on Saturday, six have been identified as local contacts.
Currently, the new variant of COVID19 is spreading its tentacles across the country including Odisha which has become a reason of concern for all. As reported by the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, as many as 14 new persons were detected with Omicron variant on Saturday that has surged the total number of Omicron cases to 75.
Of the total new positives reported on Saturday, 6 have been identified as local contacts while 8 others have foreign travel history. The Health Department has concluded the contact tracing of the new cases.
"Of the 14 Omicron cases detected by ILS on Saturday, 6 are local contacts. The infected persons are from different districts including 4 from Balasore and 4 from Sambalpur. Similarly, cases also have been reported from Khordha and Jajpur. Of the total cases, 7 are men while 7 are women," said Mohapatra.
"All the infected persons are in the 11-54 age group. Contact tracing of most of the infected cases has been concluded and the reports are negative in maximum cases. The persons found positive during contact tracing are in isolation at home as well as in special government facilities. Health condition of all patients is stable," he added.
Further, the health director also stated that it is tough to say when the spread of infection will come down unless the virus reaches a plateau stage.
New COVID norms have been released by the government and it is essential for everyone to follow the restrictions strictly so that the virus spread comes to an endemic stage, informed the top health official.