Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health and Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi on Saturday attributed the rise of Covid-19 cases in Nuapada to the existing strain of the virus. The district registered 71 fresh cases of infections today.
“The existing Covid strain is spreading rapidly. As Nayapada shares border with Chhattisgarh, the infection rate is higher there. The district administration is analysing the strain. In general, there is fear of spread of the virus everywhere in the State,” Panigrahi said.
Asked whether any vaccinated person contracted the virus in Nuapada, Panigrahi said the vaccination status of the infected persons is being studied by the Nuapada district team. “After the team submits report, we can know how many people contracted the virus after taking vaccines,” he said.
Speaking about vaccination, Panigrahi said, “We had set a target to vaccinate 2 lakh beneficiaries per day. On April 1, we inoculated more than 2 lakh people and 2.52 lakh on April 2. We expect to achieve the target today too. So far a total of 28,66,255 people have been given vaccine shots.”
“We have available stock of vaccine for four days, but we have written to the Centre to supply more vaccines so that we can plan vaccination for 15 days in advance,” he added.
Asked about measures keeping in view the rising number of infections, Panigrahi said, “We have written to the district administration to keep all the Covid hospitals in readiness in all districts as they may be required at any moment.”
The health director ruled out the possibility of any lockdown in the State. “Our current strategy is testing, tracing and treating and imposing micro-containment zones wherever required. We do not have any plan to impose lockdown.”