Top Odisha Health Officials Urge People To Avoid Crowd During Durga Puja

Top health officials in Odisha have urged people of the State to avoid crowd during Durga Puja to avert a spurt in the Covid-19 cases after the festivity.

Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Chief CBK Mohanty appealed people to adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines strictly during the crucial festival time to keep the pandemic under control.

“It is the moral responsibility of one and all to check the spread of infection and prevent themselves and others from getting infected with the virus. It will not at all be possible to maintain social distancing during Puja times. So, everybody should be careful to avoid the crowd,” said Mohanty.

The top health official also emphasised on the ongoing the vaccination drive in the State and asked people to get them inoculated at the earliest.

“Those who have received their first dose of vaccinations should not be complacent. They should take their second jabs without any neglect. It will keep them and others safe from the pandemic,” he said.

Shading light on the measures taken by Odisha government to arrest the spread of the virus during Durga Puja, Mohanty said, “Testing, tracing and treatment facilities in the State have been ramped up. People having symptoms of Covid-19 should inform the nearest health worker/s immediately and take their help to get them treated.”

Meanwhile, the Director, Family Welfare Bijay Panigrahi informed that the vaccination drive is currently underway at a steady pace in the State.

“Vaccination drive is going on at around 1800 centres across the State today. Currently, around 4,00,000 doses of vaccines are given on a daily basis. Around 25,00,000 people are still to be vaccinated in the State,” said Panigrahi.

The Odisha government has set a target to complete the vaccination drive in the State by December this year.

“While 71 per cent people among the eligible beneficiaries have taken the first jab in the State, 72 per cent people have taken the second dose of the vaccine so far. As many as 1,89,000 pregnant women have also been inoculated. The government has set a realistic target to complete the vaccination drive in the State by December,” he said.