“As Covid-19 infection is on an upward surge in the country, the trend can’t be discarded in the State fully. So, everyone needs to be careful. The school authorities should test and isolate the students immediately if they have cold and fever-like symptoms,” said State Health Director Bijay Mohapatra.
With Odisha registering only 11 positive cases in the last 24 hours, Mohapatra said the situation in the State is currently under control.
“However, people shouldn’t be complacent and they must adhere to all Covid-19 guidelines strictly. Wearing masks and keeping away from the crowd are indispensable to keep the infection at bay,” he said.
The top health official further said the State government is fully ready to meet any kind of eventualities arising out of the imminent rise in infection.
“The State is fully alert. If required the health infrastructure will be augmented to meet any kind of challenge. There is no need to press the panic button as we have an abundance of medicines and Oxygen in stock,” he added.
Meanwhile, an expert panel of India’s central drug authority has recommended granting emergency use authorisation for Biological E’s Covid-19 vaccine Corbevax for children in the five to 12 years age group.
“It is a welcome step. However, it has only been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). Following recommendation of Government of India we will start the process for the vaccination of five to 12 years age group,” said State Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi.
“The samples from the foreign returnees have been sent for genome sequencing to trace if they are infected with the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 but there is no need to press the panic button,” said Mishra.
While earlier media reports quoted that several foreign returnees to the State had gone incommunicado, the state's top doctor clarified today that no incoming people to the State is on the run.
“However, some of them are not picking phones and in a bid to trace them, our health workers are visiting different villages. The State government is fully ready to deal with any kind of eventualities in case a third wave of the pandemic breaks out,” said the top health official.
“The State administration has learnt a lot from the first and second wave of the pandemic. Based on these experiences, the Health Department is ready to meet any kind of exigencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, Health Director Bijay Mohapatra informed that the four positive foreign returnees are all asymptomatic.
“We have to be careful in the technical and community sector as far as Omicron variant of Covid-19 is concerned. Children are more at risk due to the new variant and necessary paediatric management has been made at various hospitals across the State,” said Mohapatra.
“We are extending ICU facilities in more number of hospitals and health workers are being imparted better training for the effective healthcare management,” he added.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
“Presently we are witnessing a consistent decrease in daily COVID-19 cases and sample positivity and the imposed restrictions are now being relaxed. But, it is critical that this exercise is carefully calibrated and there may not be any slackening in ongoing efforts for COVID management,” health department additional chief secretary PK Mohapatra said in a letter.
“During the process of calibrated relaxing of restrictions, focus must remain on adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour, test, track, treat and vaccination. Hence, a few critical areas as follows which may at all times be kept in the forefront of the continued battle against COVID-19,” Mohapatra emphasised.
The district and municipal administrations have been directed to take the following precautionary measures in order to manage the COVID-19 cases in the State.
As per the release, at least 420 prisoners have recovered from the viral disease while others are under treatment as per the protocols of the Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department. Till May 26, 658 prisoners have been shifted from over-congested jails with permission of trying courts, said the prisons department statement.
Most importantly, 54 out of 87 jails in the State have not been touched by the Covid pandemic which is a major relief for the government.
As a precautionary measure, the government has released an amount of Rs 15000 to each sub-jails and Rs 25000 to each district and special jails towards procurement of Covid kits, preventive medicines.
According to the data furnished by the Prisons Headquarters, the prisoner population in the State had surged to 20150 in comparison to the scheduled capacity of 19824 as of May 1, 2021. Citing serious concerns on the overcrowding of jails amid the second wave of the pandemic, a High Power Committee had suggested several measures for decongestion of jails. As a result, the number of prisoners lodged in various jails in the State has now come down to 18580.
The Prisons Department has informed that it is carrying out several containment measures to stop any rise in cases of Covid infections. Regular sanitization of wards, shifting of critically ill patients to Covid hospitals as per the laid-out protocols. Local CDMOs and Sub-Collectors have been given charge of looking after the health condition of prisoners periodically. The fire Services department has been supplying Sodium Hypochlorite Solution for disinfection of jails.
“Regret to inform the demise of thirty five numbers of Covid positive patients while under treatment in hospitals,” Health and Family Welfare Department stated through a tweet.
The department further added that Khordha district recorded the maximum five fatalities including four from Bhubaneswar. Angul also witnessed the same figure as five infected persons lost the battle to the deadly virus while undergoing treatment at various hospitals.
Nabarangpur reported four fatalities due to contagious virus during the period. Three patients each from Sundergarh and Kendrapara, two each from Kalahandi, Jharsuguda, Koraput succumbed to the Covid infection in last 24 hours.
Similarly, districts like Bhadrak, Boudh, Cuttack, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Rayagada registered one death each, H&FW department tweet stated. The fresh fatalities pushed the total death count to 2, 584 in State.
At the same time, the State reported 11, 623 new positive cases in past 24 hours tallying the caseload to 726003. Out of the fresh cases, 6509 people were found infected from quarantine centres while 5114 caught the infections from local contacts.
The active cases in the State stood at 110373 after 11, 769 patients recovered from the disease during the period. The recovered tally has climbed to 612993.
Khordha District touched 2K mark in daily virus infection figures for the first time as it recorded 2021 new cases followed by 998 in Cuttack, 823 in Angul and 699 in Sundergarh district.
Of the new positives detected in the last 24 hours, Khordha accounted for the maximum among all the districts with 1298 cases. The figures of the district had shown a large slump yesterday as it saw 1010 positives, a record low as compared to its daily case tally in the past several days.
The fresh virus cases also exhibited a downward trend in Sundargarh as the district witnessed 512 cases in the past one day. Among other districts, Cuttack has reported 922 cases followed by Angul with 819 infections and Dhenkanal 763 cases.
Odisha's cumulative death cases also surged to 2549 after various districts reported a total of 33 fatalities due to the disease in the last 24 hours. Of the new deaths which is the highest single-day figure in the State so far, Khordha accounts for 7 deaths, the maximum among all the districts today. Similarly, Angul, Jharsuguda, and Kalahandi have reported 4 deaths each followed by Sonepur and Sundargarh with 3 deaths each.
The administration’s decision comes following a steady rise in Covid-19 positive cases in the district, Puri Sub-collector Bhabataran Sahoo said.
“Cremation of dead bodies coming from outside Puri district has been barred. The bodies from only Puri district will be allowed for cremation on the condition that the person must not have died of Covid,” he added.
The relatives of the deceased will have to produce relevant documents regarding the cause of death before the district administration, the sub-collector said.
Death certificate from hospital in case a person died during treatment will be accepted. In case of natural death at home, the relatives have to produce a written document from the concerned sarpanch of their panchayat, Sahoo said.
Similar restrictions have also been imposed against the immersion of ashes ‘Asthi Visarjan, in Mahodadhi (Bay of Bengal near Swargadwar).
“Outsiders have been restricted to perform such rituals at the sea due to rising trend in covid-19 cases in the district,” Sahoo pointed out.
In July last year, the district administration had also banned cremation of outsiders at the Swargadwar due to rising covid-19 cases. However, it had lifted the curbs in October following a sharp decline in the positive cases in the State especially Puri district.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
“There are many porous village routes through which people may enter the coastal state from West Bengal without checks. So it has been decided to keep a strict vigilance and checking at all those routes. Tight surveillance is also in force at three major check posts and all the routes which pass through Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts. Police patrolling has been intensified in the regions,” said ADG (Law and Order) Yaswant Jethwa.
According to official sources, people crossing through the checkpoints are being asked to furnish a negative RT-PCR report not older than 48 hours or their vaccination certificates. After entering the State, they are also required to quarantine for seven days.
Meanwhile, police DG Abhay reviewed the Covid-19 enforcement situation in Balasore today. Earlier he had reviewed the situation of weekend shutdown in Bhadrak.
“Enforcement of Covid-19 norms in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts has been satisfactory. I thank the people of the districts for cooperating with police in the enforcement drive. I urge them to continue their support to keep the virus in check,” said Abhay.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
The weekend restrictions have been put in place in all the urban areas of the 30 districts of the State.
According to reports, civic authorities and police are ensuring strict enforcement of Covid-19 norms. Stringent actions are being taken against the violators.
A thick blanket of security has been put in place during the observance of the 48-hour weekend shutdown in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
As many as 32 platoons of police force, including 12 in Cuttack and 20 platoons in Bhubaneswar have been deployed to ensure strict compliance of the shutdown norms.
As many as 250 officers (100 officers in Cuttack, 150 in Bhubaneswar) are supervising the overall arrangements and compliance of the guidelines.
According to police sources, as many as 68 check points including 25 points and Cuttack and 43 in Bhubaneswar have been set up for enforcing the shutdown movement regulations.
However, all the essential services including hospitals, nursing homes, medicine stores, grocery shops and milk booths are allowed to function as usual during the shutdown.
Here are few pictures of the strict enforcement of Covid-19 norms during the shutdown at various urban areas across Odisha:
The lethal virus has taken a massive 60 countries into its vice like grip. As per WHO latest update, in last 48 hours, COVID 19 has penetrated into seven new countries namely Mexico, San Merino, Belarus, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Nigeria. The apex health body has raised the risk level (spread and impact) to very high at the global level.
How it will change world's fate?
COVID 19 has infected stock markets across the world. The flu makes the markets look red. When investors across globe in last six-days lost a whopping $ 6 trillion, Indian investors in a single day-trading lost an eye-popping $5trillion. Economists fear this rush for sell-off of stocks could become a long-term phenomenon, which could then push the global economy to a recession. The caveat is if no positive news regarding containment of this rampaging virus emerges, then the inevitable can happen. If global economy slips into recession, it will then be a worst nightmare for all countries, including India.
INDIA Scenario
Twenty-six days over, no new case reported from anywhere in country. The assuring fact is all three COVID 19 cases were imported cases. The history of COVID 19 cases show the lethal viral strain has not penetrated to community level in India.
Does the Risk Persists: It's very much there. The danger of import of COVID-19 still looms large. In the context of emerging global scenario, Union Health Ministry has held a specific review of J&K and Ladakh with respect to returnees from Iran.
A sort of travel ban has been issued by Centre. Advisories issued to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore, Republic of Korea, Iran and Italy. Also, people coming from Republic of Korea, Iran and Italy or having such travel history since 10th February 2020 are quarantined for 14 days on arrival to India.
COVID-19 Check-list: As many as 4.829 lakh passengers screened from 4,787 flights as on date. Screening continues at 21 Airports, 12 major seaports and 65 minor seaports and land crossings particularly bordering Nepal. A total of 23,531passengers are presently under community surveillance through IDSP.
A total of 2,836 samples sent for testing, 2,830 are found negative, 3 samples were earlier found positive in Kerala (these have recovered and have been discharged) and 3 are under testing. All 645 evacuees at the earlier camps at Manesar and Chhawla discharged on Feb 18th.
ODISHA Scenario
As many as seven suspected COVID-19 cases in the State found negative. Still, as per State Health Department, a high of 83 people returned from affected countries were placed under home quarantine as a preventive measure.
How big the risk: The vulnerability is not off the hook. Though the intensive screening at airports stands as a guard against the virus penetrating to the State, a high-level watch-out need to be maintained with regard to community transmission from states like Kerala, J&K etc.
Self-Quarantine Mode: *Avoid close contact with sick people. *Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. *Stay home when you are sick. *Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. *Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Global Scenario
Latest WHO update shows COVID-19 is traced in 60 countries. US has recorded its first COVID-19 death. As per Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the patient has no travel history to affected country. CDC feels the virus is spreading in community.
SCIENTISTS SCALE UP EFFORTS: US-based CDC has named the virus as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). It says, " SARS-CoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. All three viruses have their origins in bats.
*COVID-19 has been grown in cell culture by CDC in its lab to study its epidemiology and develop an anti-viral therapy.
*CDC has developed a new laboratory test kit for use in testing patient specimens for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The test kit is called the CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase (RT)-PCR Diagnostic Panel.
As per the directive, the State government has made it clear that 'Empowered Officers' - Director of Public Health, Director of Health Services, Director of Medical Education and Training, all collectors and Municipal Commissioners have been authorized to take measures necessary to combat any outbreak of the Covid-19.
All government hospitals (govt and private) should have Covid-19 corners for the screening of suspected cases of the viral disease. All health institutions during the screening of such cases shall record all data including all contacts and history of travel of the affected to any country or region where the viral disease has been witnessed.
The health notification has clarified that anyone found disseminating any information on Covid-19 without ascertaining any facts and prior clearance of the empowered officers will be found guilty of punishable offence.
Similarly, in order to prevent any private institutions from taking undue benefits from the situation through unscrupulous means, the government has said that undertaking of Covid-19 diagnosis will not be permissible in any private laboratories. It may be mentioned that the State government has set up a medical test facility for diagnosis of Covid-19 at RMRC, Bhubaneswar. Another centre will also be opened at SCB Cuttack if it is needed.
Empowered officers may initiate any action under section 188 of IPC against any person who refuses to comply with such advice of isolation or admission. The State health department in its notification has also listed out elaborate containment measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
These regulations shall remain valid for a period of one year with immediate effect, the notification stated.
And taking a cue from Centre, where the Union Home Ministry has on Thursday decided to transfer the power of Home Secretary under the chapter10 of Disaster Management Act to Health Secretary, Odisha government also toed the line on Friday.
Why Centre asked states to invoke colonial era Act Indian Epidemic Diseases Act?
A look at the Act shows this Act is a legal instrument to prevent spread of dangerous epidemic diseases in the country. The section 2 of the Act empowers the State government to prescribe temporary regulations on public, which it deems necessary to prevent spread of a dangerous disease.
In fact, invoking this provision of the Act, Karnataka government has put an embargo on marriages, and Odisha government decided to regulate marriage and religious functions.
And the main motive of invoking the Act is revealed when one reads the section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act in accordance with subsection (b) of the Act.
The section 2 (b) of the Act says State government will be empowered to carry out the inspection of persons traveling by railway or otherwise, and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infected with any such disease.
At his evening presser yesterday, State Health Secretary Nikunj Dhal has hinted at the looming danger of COVID-19 on Odisha via the rail tracks.
Significantly, the COVID19 in India no more remains an imported disease. The spread to Agra from Delhi, large number of cases in Kerala and Maharashtra are evident to the novel coronavirus acquiring the level of local transmission in the country.
As per WHO and US-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if a virus acquires the level of local transmission in a country, there are heightened chances of it acquiring the level of community transmission in a month. For which, month of March will be crucial in India's fight against novel coronavirus.
Even, US-based CDC has already upgraded COVID19 to the level of sustained community transmission level in India. And India is just a notch below the widespread sustained spread level. Currently, globally, Japan is the only country having widespread sustained spread of COVID-19.
What is sustained community spread? As per CDC, sustained community spread means that people have been infected with the virus, but how or where they some of them became infected is not known, and virus transmission is ongoing.
However, the difference in Indian scenario at present is, the cause of new infections have been traced to contact with persons having travel history to COVID-19 hit countries.
But the big observation is India is currently witnessing more and more cases of secondary infection. And the numbers are yet to stabilise. This rising count has the potential risk of making COVID-19 becoming a widespread sustained community transmission in the country, provided no curbs were imposed on social gatherings.
It is towards this end, the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 has been invoked in Odisha along with other states.
Moreover, the controversy surrounding the reported first COVID-19 death in India at Kalaburgi emphasises the need to invoke section 10 of the Disaster Management Act 2005.
What is Chapter 10 of Disaster Management Act 2005?
This chapter of the Act empowers the State to not only provision punishment as per IPC act against those who obstruct the work of any government official in discharging its duty but also takes into task any government official or department for not discharging an assigned duty. The chapter empowers the State government to initiate action against private organisation for not following the government directives.
COVID-19 Count: *123 countries in its grip as on March 13, 2020.
*Five new countries/territories/areas (Jersey, Réunion, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Cuba and Guyana) have reported cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
*Indian Scenario: Total positives -89, Deaths -2 , Mortality rate - 2.4 per cent. (for details look at the table)
*Odisha Scenario: 138 persons have been put under the surveillance of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). 21 suspected cases tested negative.
A PHD scholar of National Institute of Technology in Rourkela named Vineet Kumar claimed to have designed the app which could help in self-screening of Coronavirus infection.
Speaking about his app, Vineet said, “The preliminary step for screening of the disease is thermal detection. So our application is based on an IR Sensor thermal camera which transcripts the whole body temperature of any suspected person to create a profile. It is then matched with the standard temperature profile of an infection-hit body to give us any first-hand information if the person has any abnormality.”
Also Read: Coronavirus: Govt Notifies Hand Sanitizers, Surgical Masks, Gloves As Essential Commodities
It may be noted that at present, the standard method of diagnosis for the Coronavirus is by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) carried out on the nasopharyngeal swab or throat swab of an infected patient.
“Although it is a not a comprehensive testing method, it can be definitely used as a first-step identification of any suspected cases,” claimed the NIT scholar.
Further explaining the working of his application, Vineet said, “Basically we have synchronised a face-locker infrared camera with the standard profile containing detection parameters of a Coronavirus patient in our app. So when a person clicks a photograph using the application, if it shows green colour then the person does not have to worry but if the indicator shows red, the person should go for detailed screening as it may be a case of infection."
While endorsing the application for public use, Kumar said, “I hope that the government supports us and authorizes the app so that it can be installed for mass detection of suspected cases at major sensitive points like railway stations.
https://youtu.be/hr9yCPMTpgo
According to a new study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists published in The New England Journal of Medicine says, "Results provide key information about the stability of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, and suggests that people may acquire the virus through the air and after touching contaminated objects.
Till date the notion has been that people can acquire nCoV, if they come in close contact with an affected person or objects contaminated by a Covid-19 positive.
And more scary scientific study results surfaced are: The virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces.
What are aerosols? An aerosol is a suspension of small liquid droplets or solid particles in air. The aerosol material exists in the liquid or solid state and is carried by the air into the respiratory tract.
The study says, " The scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel".
As per the report published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the scientists have come to this conclusion after a mimic virus deposited from an infected person onto everyday surfaces in a household or hospital setting, such as through coughing or touching objects. The scientists then investigated how long the virus remained infectious on these surfaces.
The study has also listed the subtle differences regarding why the SARS-nCoV-2 is infecting more than SARS-CoV-1. Scientists says If the viability of the two coronaviruses is similar, why is SARS-CoV-2 resulting in more cases?
Their observations are:
*Emerging evidence suggests that people infected with SARS-CoV-2 might be spreading virus without recognizing, or prior to recognizing, symptoms. This would make disease control measures that were effective against SARS-CoV-1 less effective against its successor.
*In contrast to SARS-CoV-1, most secondary cases of virus transmission of SARS-CoV-2 appear to be occurring in community settings rather than healthcare settings. However, healthcare settings are also vulnerable to the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2, and the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols and on surfaces likely contributes to transmission of the virus in healthcare settings.
Indian Scenario: As per the latest bulletin, the total active Covid19 cases (means hospitalised cases) in the country stood at 130. However, the total cases reported stood at 147, which includes 14 cured/discharged and 3 mortalities.
The break-up data shows Indians with nCoV totalled to 122, and the foreigners count stood at 25.
Also reads: COVID19 infects Maharashtra in a big way, Odisha faces a huge threat!
The moot point is what's the evolving Covid-19 scenario in India. An analysis of the data reveals more significant inferences.
Consider this. The Covid-19 mortality rate in India at present stood at 2 per cent, and recovery rate stood at around 10 per cent.
An analysis gives big hints. India reported first case on Jan 30, till the 4th of March, the country has recorded mere 6 cases. But the first big spike of Covid-19 cases happened on March 4, when on a day the country reported 23 new cases. However, it takes 6 -long days to touch the 50-mark on March 10.
The scenario took a disconcerting turn since March 15. And the new cases every stands testimony to it. 14 new cases on March 15, 11 on March 16, 19 new cases on March 17 and 12 new cases on March 18 till morning 9 AM. Look at the graph below.
Another big analytical inference: The last case showing recovery from Covid-19 in the country has been on March 7. During March 8-18, no new recovery case of Covid-19 has been noticed.
The big sigh of relief: Since January 30, none of the Covid-19 patient has been under intensive care. Intensive care patients means patients developing serious complications affecting vital organs.
The above inferences show Covid-19 cases are on the ascent in the country since last week, so has it entered into the level of community transmission?
However, only yesterday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has denied of nCoV acquiring community transmission in India. The apex research body said son on the basis of nearly 500 samples (of 1,020) with Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) conditions reporting negative nCoV.
However, the results of another set of over 500 sample will be declared today. Today's results may put a stamp of approval that Covid-19 hasn't acquired community transmission level in the country.
Odisha Scenario: 32 tests done. 1 positive tested and given treatment in isolation ward. But not under intensive care. 53 quarantined and under observation. Though none has yet shown flu/pneumonia like symptoms, 12 samples sent for test.
History of Covid-19 shows, the chances of acquiring the disease is high if one has any close contact with a viral shedding Covid-19 positive case. So, time will tell the future Covid scenario in Odisha!
Also Read: Odisha Covid19 Update: No flu-like symptoms yet in 53 Contacts of Covid19 positive!
Patnaik's elder sister Gita Mehta (77) stays in the USA and usually visits her late father Biju Patnaik's house every year in March.
Mehta remained in "home isolation" at the Naveen Niwas, the chief minister's residence near the city airport.
"I have registered my sister's details on the government portal for persons coming from abroad," Patnaik said in a tweet.
The chief minister lodged his sister's details in the designated portal within 24 hours of her arrival, an official said.
I have registered my sister’s details in the Government portal for persons coming from abroad. I appeal all of you to also register details about your family members and friends coming from abroad. This will help protect #Odisha from #CoronaVirus#Register4Covid19SafeOdisha
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 18, 2020
While making an appeal to other foreign returnees to inform the government about their tour, Patnaik thanked Gajapati Maharaja of Puri and his family members for themselves intimating about their arrival from the US and going into the self- quarantine.
The state government has already announced an incentive of Rs 15,000 for registration of foreign returnees and isolating themselves at their homes.
"I appeal to everyone coming from abroad to mandatorily register themselves through the toll-free number 104 or online portal -- covid19.odisha.gov.in -- within 24 hours of arrival in Odisha, to prevent the spread of the disease in the state," Patnaik said in a video message.
Self-disclosure will help the administration in tracking and containing the virus outbreak, he said.
I appeal everyone coming from abroad to mandatorily register themselves through toll free number-104 or online portal https://t.co/dAGGzSp7jV within 24 hours of arrival, to prevent spread of #COVID19 in #Odisha.Self disclosure will help us in tracking and containing the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/j6tpC5IDTE
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 18, 2020
As many as 1,239 people have already registered their names with the portal and through helpline number by Tuesday.
Police on Wednesday raided some hotels and guest houses in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for allegedly ignoring the government's advisory and not informing the administration about their guests.
A guest house in Jaydev Vihar in the state capital was sealed, a senior official said.
"A group of people from Maharashtra and Delhi had stayed in this guest house, but the owner did not inform the administration. Therefore, we have sealed the facility," he said.
As part from its measures to tackle the spread of the disease, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) ordered that the seven major 'haats' in the State capital will function between 6 AM to 6 PM.
The state government also issued an advisory to all religious institutions within the State to strictly adhere to the advisories and stress on social distancing.
Similarly, the Finance Department of the State government issued an advisory for all the banks and asked them to adhere to it control COVID-19 disease.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed those involved in combating the coronavirus outbreak as he responded to several tweets on the fight against the deadly virus. He also appreciated Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for setting an example by registering his sister's details in the government portal for people coming from abroad.
"I hope others also emulate Naveen Babu. We all can do our bit in preventing the spread of COVID-19," Modi said.
Setting a great example, Chief Minister!
I hope others also emulate Naveen Babu. We all can do our bit in preventing the spread of COVID-19. @Naveen_Odisha #IndiaFightsCorona https://t.co/N3LeLfxdAC
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 18, 2020
Responding to a tweet by a man whose daughter was rescued from COVID-19-hit Italy, the prime minister said, "Will do everything possible to help our citizens."
Such efforts are possible due to teamwork, he said, lauding all those working to make it possible.
To a doctor who posted a picture of himself with a message urging people to stay at home, Modi said, "Well said, Doctor! Also a shout-out to all those working to make our planet safer and healthier. No words will ever do justice to their exceptional efforts."
The prime minister also urged researchers, innovators and tech-lovers to rise to the occasion and ideate for a better planet.
Responding to a Twitter user who said his firm is closed and was continuing to service clients remotely, Modi said, "That is the spirit! Precaution and productivity both are possible in these times. Best wishes to you and your team."
Replying to a tweet praising his initiative of bringing SAARC countries together for combating COVID-19, he said working together can lead to good results, benefiting so many people.
"I thank PM Hasina for sharing her insightful views during the video conference with fellow SAARC leaders," Modi said.
(PTI)
Though the State has till date reported only 2 positive cases from a total of 77 samples tested, as many as 28 Covid-19 suspects are still under hospital isolation, which means they are sick with some symptoms. In the last 24-hours, five more have been brought under hospital isolation that took the total count to 28.
Highly placed sources in the State Public Health department inform that it is this number that has forced the hands of the Naveen-led government to go for a complete lockdown in the 5-districts. Significantly, the hospitalised suspects have contacts in the five lockdown districts. And they have been asked to stay in home-quarantine.
Is the danger still lurking?
As per ICMR DG Balaram Bhargav, one who is under hospital isolation has to undergo two tests within a time span of 14 days, if both reports test negative, then after 14-days h/she will be discharged from the hospital. The reason is history of the disease shows that after 14-days the strains of novel coronavirus cannot be sighted.
He, however, added that if the discharged patient shows recurrence of some Covid-19 symptoms, they should immediately contact health centres. Because, WHO reports show in few cases Covid-19 symptoms have manifested in infected persons after 27 days.
Given the uncertainties associated with this novel coronavirus disease, the danger still holds high for Odisha, especially when the number of hospital isolation persons posted a rise in the last 24-hours.
Another risk factor before the State is, as per IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme) report, returnees from gulf countries, especially Dubai (UAE) and Qatar, have emerged as the big source of Covid-19 transmission in country, especially in states like Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka.
The risk for the State is, over 680 returnees from UAE have registered themselves in the newly launched portal www.covid19.odisha.gov.in since March 17. And nearly three-fourth of the registered returnees are native to the lockdown districts.
It seems a host of such risk factors are behind the Naveen Patnaik-led govt's decision to impose a near total lockdown for as many as 8-days.
The Covid-19 scenario in the country is still fluid. The number count keeps increasing every day. The speed of transmission appears quite high.
After recording the highest ever single day cases of 74, in the last 17-hours, the country saw detection of 22 more positives cases that takes the tally to 344.
On Sunday, when the country has observed Janta curfew, the nation has recorded two more deaths taking the total toll to 6.
The States that have reported new cases today are: Gujarat, Telangana, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. And deaths have been reported from states like : Maharashtra and Bihar.
The big worry on Sunday: As per reports from various states, in as many as 29 Covid-19 positive cases, the source of infection is yet to be traced.
And, even, US-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put India in the level of ongoing community transmission.
In order to make the lockdown really meaningful, the State government today took many major decisions. The inter-state bus movements will be suspended from 11 AM tomorrow (Tuesday). Besides, the city bus services in all the ULBs (urban local bodies) shall remain suspended from midnight tonight until further orders.
Addressing the daily Covid-19 briefing today, Subroto Bagchi, State govt's chief spokesperson, put out in detail the State government's road map to lock-in the transmission of novel coronavirus.
He said, ”Odisha govt has a very clear roadmap. Our number one priority is to prevent the novel coronavirus from acquiring an epidemic form in State. Also, our endeavour is to augment the capacity to deal Covid-19 exigencies outside the domain of health centres. Besides, the govt will not allow any adverse impact on the goods and services movement in the State".
In another major policy decision, Odisha govt has today decided to close all its over 72,000 Anganwadi Centres (AWC) operational across the State till April 30.
Simultaneously, the govt has also taken a decision to go for home delivery of ration under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) to the over 47.8 lakh beneficiaries in the State.
Taking into account the experiences of the first day of lockdown in a working day today, State government has decided to invoke section 2 of the Indian Epidemic Act 1897 to regulate the crowd on roads.
"Odisha govt under section 2 of the Epidemic Act 1897 has made it mandatory for all the central govt institutions like banks, insurance companies and others non-essential offices to function with only 10 per cent of their staff capacity till further orders," Bagchi informed and added that suitable authorities in the respective offices/institutions have to issue passes to such employees attending office.
On the same lines, Odisha govt has waived the physical attendance of staffs in all its non - critical departments until further orders. Delineating the details regarding office attendance, Bagchi said critical State govt departments will work with 50 per cent staff and partially critical departments with only 10 per cent staff.
Adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards violation of home-quarantine protocol in the State, Bagchi informed that a form having a special format will be pasted at the house of a person in-home quarantine. The govt has also directed to file an FIR under Sec 188, 271 of IPC against a returnee from Uzbek in Sambapur for violating home quarantine protocol of the State government.
Is this an alarming sign for the country? As per the accepted yardstick globally, the situation is projected to turn explosive if the death rate doubles in a short span of time.
Consider the India case. The country has recorded first Covid-19 death on March 12. The death doubled to 2 in 72 hours (March 14). Maintaining the trend, death toll doubles to 4 in next 72 hours (March 16).
But the mortality count took 96 hours to double to 8 on March 23. And in next 24 hours (on March 24), the toll inched up by 2 to touch 10.
It needs mentioning that for the last four days (Mar 21-24), the country has been recording 2 deaths every day, which when cumulatively seen comes at a massive 60 per cent of the total deaths recorded till date. Significant here is, first Covid-19 case in the country was detected on January 30. And the hunch here is if the trend continues, then the mortality toll in the country will be exponential.
Now, a look at the doubling rate of deaths in high-burden countries provide some big hints. When the death toll in Italy took 5-days (120 hrs) to double, its' 3-days (72hrs) in US and 13 days (312 hours) in S Korea.
Significant observation is, Covid-19 curve flattened in those countries like South Korea, where death toll took a longer time to double.
A study of the Covid-19 cases and deaths reveals a clear co-relation. The deaths progress at the same pace the confirmed positive cases post a rise (look the graph below).
The trend is witnessed in Indian scenario also. The Covid-19 cases in the country has shown an upward trend from March 12, and so too the graphic rise of Covid-19 deaths (see the image).
It's in this context, the mathematical model on Covid-19 released today by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) hints very big.
As per ICMR model, identification of atleast 75 per cent of asymptomatic individuals having travel history is the need of the hour. ICMR study added that this will allow delaying the with-in country outbreak or community transmission by an appreciable amount. And if the identification proportion increased to 90 per cent, then it would delay the average time to epidemic by 20-days.
At the same time, ICMR admits that such high identification is infeasible as it entails screening of all passengers having foreign travel history.
The ICMR has, thus, concluded that this model tells about the impact of interventions in cases of symptomatic individuals in containment of on-going transmission in the country.
COVID-19 Count In India: * Total positive cases - 519
* Active cases - 469 * Recovered cases - 40 * Maharashtra tops with 101 cases * Kerala - 2nd with 95 * Delhi - 31 cases.
Though the count of novel coronavirus keeps ticking upwards every day, a tumbling down in the growth rate of n-CoV cases every day in the country since March 23 (post Janta Curfew day) is clearly discernible.
Take a look at the graph. The n-CoV cases started growing at the rate of 31 per cent on March 20, 25 per cent on March 21 and 26 per cent on March 22 (Janta Curfew day). On March 23, when a lockdown was enforced by as many as 32 states and UTs, the growth rate of Covid-19 cases dropped to 19 per cent. The growth rate dipped further to 14 per cent on March 24.
On the 25th of March, when the whole country was brought under lockdown, the rate of growth of novel-coronavirus cases dropped further to 13 per cent. And on March 26, the rate of growth fell further to around 7 per cent.
The above analysis crystal clearly points to falling flat of the Covid-19 growth curve in the country post janta curfew and enforcement of lockdown.
The number of Covid-19 positive cases recorded in country yesterday (Mar 25) stood at 70. And the positive cases today (Mar 26) at 43 till evening. As per reports, the Covid-19 count in the country will cross the 1000 mark as the number of suspects identified as on today stood at a massive 652.
Some unquiet numbers surfaced are: When the recovery rate in the world stood at 24 per cent as on today, the rate in India stood at mere 6.6 per cent. The total confirmed cases recorded till today has been 649. And the recovered cases stood at 43.
Consider this significant yardstick. An epidemic can be described as under control when the gap between new cases and new recoveries is very narrow.
In case of Covid-19 in India, the gap is yawning. As per data available, the widening of the gap started on March 18 and touches a new high on March 26. For instance, on March 14, new cases were 8 and the recovered case stood at 1. But on March 26, new cases stood at 43 (till evening) and the recovered cases stood at mere 2.
A state-wise glance reveals more. Maharashtra has recorded 124 cases, recovered case is only 1. Similarly, Kerala recorded 118 cases, recovery observed in 4 cases.
Only Haryana has recorded a very strong recovery rate in India. The total positive cases in the State stood at 31, and recovery noticed in 11 cases.
Moreover, the Covid-19 death rate globally has increased from 3 per cent in March first week to 4.5 per cent as on March 26. In India, the mortality rate has also increased from below 1 per cent in March 2nd week to 2 per cent as on March 26.
The above analysis indicates how the mortality rate of Covid-19 globally, including India, have been on the ascent.
All the 22 persons are presently in government quarantine. As per latest reports, out of the samples of 20 persons, 15 samples tested negative for Coronavirus while results of five samples are awaited, informed Information and Public Relations Department.
Meanwhile, the State government today put two persons in hospital quarantine who returned to the State after attending the Tablighi Jamaat.
According to sources, while one person has been identified as a resident of Jajpur district, the second person hails from Kendrapara district. The Kendrapara man has reportedly been put in hospital isolation while his family members have been kept under home quarantine.
"We will send his samples for COVID-19 test. If it turns out positive, we will initiate contact tracing," said Kendrapara District Collector, Samarth Verma.
Also Read: Coronavirus Lockdown Impact: Odisha Govt Announces Big Salary Curbs
He further said that the police are trying to figure out if any other persons from the district had attended the function and returned to the State.
Moreover, another attendee of Delhi Tablighi Jamaat event from Odisha has returned to Binjharpur block in Jajpur district. District collector Ranjan Kumar Das informed that the concerned person has been kept in isolation and his swab samples have been sent for testing.
His family members have been home-quarantined, said Das adding, "We have now intensified surveillance after tracing the attendee of the Delhi programme, who hails from Binjharpur block."
As per reports, two more persons from Koraput district had also reportedly attended the Delhi Tablighi Jamaat event. Informing about the same, district collector Madhusundan Mishra informed OTV that one of them who hails from Kotpad is in quarantine in Delhi while the other one from Jeypore is currently in Guntur of neighboring Andhra Pradesh.
On the other hand, two persons from Rourkela who had visited Nizammudin on March 8 but retuned without attending the function have also been in kept under isolation ward of Rourkela government hospital.
Read More: Odisha Fights Corona: Patient-2 Recovers Completely, To Be Discharged From AIIMS
"Though the duo didn't attend the main Markaz event from March 13 to March 15 and returned to the State, we don't want to take risks and have already sent their samples for testing. We will take our next course of action only after getting the test results," said Sundergarh Collector, Nikhil Pawan Kalyan.
Their role has been acknowledged by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who expressed his gratitude for their support during this critical time.
Also Read: Coronavirus Lockdown: Odisha Man Becomes Godsend For Needy
"I am heartened by the all-round response of women especially members of Mission Shakti Self Help Groups (SHGs) during this critical time, Patnaik said recently.
The women are devoting their time in generating awareness, supplying essential commodities to families, cooking meals for poor, and even making 50,000 masks every day, he said.
The Mission Shakti programme was started by Patnaik in 2001, a year after he assumed power in Odisha.
It has always played a vital role during any disaster or emergency situation, and has now become a movement in the state, the chief minister said.
The members work in rural and urban areas and once again the Mission Shakti members have risen to the occasion providing a vital link between the government and the community as leaders, partners in service delivery at the grass root level, said Sujata R Karthikeyan, the director of Mission Shakti.
From early March, the SHGs were assigned the responsibility of creating awareness on COVID-19 at the community level. They circulated pamphlets, mostly targeting women in rural and urban areas.
The Women Self Help Group (WSHG) members mostly concentrated on women those who have little knowledge on hygiene and sanitation, the official said.
They carried the chief ministers pledge of Stay Home, Stay Safe' at the doorsteps of people, who do not have access to newspapers and television channels.
The women also made the rural people understand in simple language that it is not impossible to defeat coronavirus if they stay home and break the transmission chain, Karthikeyan said.
Seeing the public demand for masks, nearly 400 SHGs are making 50,000 masks every day, the official said.
Our SHGs have sold nearly 6 lakh masks so far to agencies, institutions banks, police, village health workers.
They are sold at a reasonable rate of Rs 15-20 per piece. Many SHGs have also taken this up as a philanthropic activity and distributed masks free of cost to those in need, Karthikeyan pointed out.
When the lockdown was announced and it was seen that supply of rations and vegetables may become an issue, the WSHG members stepped in to fill the gap.
Nearly 500 SHGs have set up dry ration, vegetables and fruit shops across the state with the help of the district administration, she said.
Also Read: ‘Odisha To Set Up COVID-19 Hospitals In All Districts’
The WSHG members are also carrying out home delivery services for providing ration in many urban centres like Berhampur, Cuttack, Kendrapara and Koraput.
Meanwhile, the chief minister has entrusted the responsibility of managing free kitchens in every Gram Panchayat to the WSHGs.
This is not all. Some WSHGs and federations have voluntarily contributed from their group savings to the Chief Ministers Relief fund for the coronavirus pandemic.
(PTI)
State Health and Family Welfare department informed that 16 new cases of Covid-19 have been detected in Bhubaneswar which has now become the hotspot of the Coronavirus infection in the entire State. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Odisha has now risen to 39 out of which Bhubaneswar alone accounts for 32 cases.
16 more COVID positive cases confirmed in Bhubaneswar.
— H & FW Dept Odisha (@HFWOdisha) April 5, 2020
Further informing about the development, the Health department clarified that 15 out of the total 16 new cases detected today belong to Bomikhal area of the city which has been sealed.
Also Read: As Odisha Prepares For ‘9Baje9Minute’ For COVID19, Mind The Dos & Don’ts
The government has urged public not to panic and stay indoors. "Cluster containment has been put in place and house to house survey is going on. All suspects and contacts shall be isolated and tested," the State health department tweeted.
About 15 of the new cases detected today belong to Bomikhal which has been sealed. Cluster containment has been put in place and house to house survey is going on. All suspects and contacts shall be isolated and tested. Citizens are urged not to panic and stay indoors.
— H & FW Dept Odisha (@HFWOdisha) April 5, 2020
The sudden spike in number of Coronavirus cases in Bhubaneswar comes just an hour after the 48-hour shutdown was lifted from the capital city.
Earlier in the day, the State Health & Family Welfare Department informed that the capital city had recorded two positive cases of Coronavirus.
Taking to twitter, Chief Minister's Office has also asked the public not to panic but sincerely follow the lockdown guidelines in a strict manner.
"People need not panic. It’s in a contained area of Bhubaneswar with known contact. Sincere appeal - please don’t venture out and respect lockdown. Police will take very tough action on violators," the CMO tweeted.
Also Read: COVID-19 Crisis: Centre Releases Rs 17,287 Cr To States, Odisha To Get Rs 802 Cr
Meanwhile, the State Health Secretary Nikunja Dhal asked Municipal Commissioners, Collectors and CDM/PHOs to provide triple layer surgical masks to persons under quarantine at home and in facilities. Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited has been directed to supply the masks.
In Odisha, two Covid-19 patients have so far been discharged after they recovered from the disease while others are under treatment at various designated COVID hospitals.
https://youtu.be/1CwnmZDVGSE
Today's second case has been admitted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. The patient is a 69-year-old male from Medinipur in West Bengal who was brought in ambulance directly from WB. The department said that further details will be released during today's press briefing.
2 new COVID-19 POSITIVE cases confirmed so far today.
1 Dhenkanal town case, female 51 years
1 patient of a Bhubaneswar based private hospital , male 69 years of Medinipur, WB. Brought in ambulance directly from WB. Further details will be released during daily press briefing.
— H & FW Dept Odisha (@HFWOdisha) April 9, 2020
Dhenkanal Collector Bhumesh Chandra Behera this morning informed that 15 persons who had come in contact with a Tablighi Jamaat returnee in the district have tested negative for COVID-19 and now allowed to return to their homes where they will continue their quarantine period.
As on Wednesday, the total number of tests conducted in the State stood at 2841 out of which 42 were confirmed COVID-19 cases; one person has succumbed to the disease while two have been discharged from hospital. Today after detection of two fresh cases, the active COVID-19 cases count stands at 41. On Wednesday, 400 samples were sent for testing (264 to RMRC, 60 to AIIMS and 76 to SCB) and all tested negative for coronavirus.
Bhubaneswar has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases so far at 35 including the WB Medinipur case, followed by Bhadrak which has recorded 3 cases, and Puri, Cuttack, Kalahandi, Kendrapara, Jajpur and Dhenkanal with one case each.
On the other hand, wearing of masks or face covers while moving out in public has been made compulsory in Odisha from today.
Wearing a mask or face cover now mandatory for people in #Odisha from today. Here's how one should use a mask to stay protected from #COVID19 #OdishaFightsCorona #COVID19Pandemic pic.twitter.com/hykMTS6uqC
— OTV (@otvnews) April 9, 2020
The Health Department had mentioned that three persons had been tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday; however, later it rectified the number and added one more case saying there were some technical issues in the website.
#Odisha H&FW confirms detection of 4 new #COVID cases.
"Four COVID-19 positive cases confirmed today so far. Technical issues in the website being rectified," tweets H&FW#COVID__19 #COVIDー19 #CoronaVirusUpdates pic.twitter.com/Khp6RLVjyk
— OTV (@otvnews) April 11, 2020
While details of the fresh cases are yet to be revealed, the present cumulative tests stand at 3551, of which 3497 samples have been tested negative.
Also Read: COVID-19 Record? Odisha 1st State To Claim A 94% Cure Rate Soon!
With Saturday's four positive cases, the active cases stand at 41 as a total of 12 persons have so far recovered from the disease. While two persons have been discharged from hospital, the State government on Saturday informed that 10 others will be discharged from hospital soon. Apart from that, one person has succumbed to the decease on April 7.
The positive cases in the State touched the 50-mark on Friday after two persons from Bhubaneswar, a 35-year-old woman and 23-year-old male, tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The State I&PR department also revealed the details of case number 49 yesterday.
I&PR dept discloses Travel History of #Odisha's Case-49#Covid19 #OdishaFightsCorona #CoronaVirusUpdates pic.twitter.com/Uh0tbWfiBj
— OTV (@otvnews) April 11, 2020
Patient Details of #Covid19 #Odisha
Case no-49 (35 Years Female) & Case no-50: (23 Years Male) are the close contacts of Madhusudan Nagar, Unit- 4, Bhubaneswar Covid-19 Case. pic.twitter.com/XJdaX9xz1h
— I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) April 11, 2020
In his routine media briefing on Saturday, Odisha government’s COVID19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said that health facilities at the grassroots level have been ramped up with 6,939 temporary medical centres having a total bed capacity of 1, 62,142 across 6798 gram panchayats (GPs) in the State.
Bagchi further informed that every Community Health Centre (CHC) has been provided with Rs 10 lakh each while Rs 5 lakh has been sanctioned to each Primary Health Centre (PHC) for arrangement of basic facilities and sanitation.
Also Read: COVID19 Fightback: Odisha Sets Up 6,939 Temporary Medical Centres In GP Level
As per the Health Department, one of the two COVID-19 cases from Kalahandi district has recovered and tested negative for coronavirus. The patient is currently undergoing treatment at Ashwini Covid Hospital in Cuttack and might be discharged soon.
Happy to share that one Covid positive case of Kalahandi district, presently at Ashwini Covid hospital, Cuttack, has recovered and tested negative for COVID-19. Our best wishes to him.
— H & FW Dept Odisha (@HFWOdisha) April 12, 2020
It is worthwhile to mention here that two persons from Kalahandi district had been infected with the coronavirus. The first patient (Odisha's Case-20) had a travel history to Bahrain while the second (Case-45) was a contact of Case-20. The health department is yet to clarify who among these two has recovered from the disease.
Earlier, 12 people had been cured of the disease in the State. The data shared by the health department reveals that 3862 samples have been tested in the State so far, out of which 54 have tested positive for COVID-19 (including 40 active cases, 13 recovery cases, and one death case).
Also Read: COVID19 Fightback: Odisha Sets Up 6,939 Temporary Medical Centres In GP Level
In a related development, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Sunday issued a revised status of government labs for testing of COVID-19 samples. While Ispat General Hospital (IGH) in Rourkela has received approval for carrying out COVID tests as per protocol, Burla-based VIMSAR, on the other hand, was included in category-1, which means it does not have required infrastructure and needs State government’s support for setting up the facility.
ICMR issues revised status of government labs for testing of #COVID19. While Rourkela IGH present in the list has been approved for carrying out tests as per protocol, Burla VIMSAR has been included in category 1 meaning it needs State govt's support for setting up the facility pic.twitter.com/u75AMlhB0g
— OTV (@otvnews) April 12, 2020
Also Read: Odisha Enhances Contingency Fund Corpus To Rs 2,000 Crore To Tackle COVID-19
Earlier in the day, the State government provided travel history of patient no. 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 and said that the contact tracing and follow up action is underway.
Patient Travel History #Covid19
Case no: 50, 51 & 52.
Contact tracing and follow up action is being taken. pic.twitter.com/rEkkNzAAOS
— I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) April 12, 2020
Patient Travel History #Covid19
Case no: 53 & 54.
Contact tracing and follow up action is being taken. pic.twitter.com/X7d0R53FHy
— I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) April 12, 2020
Informing about the same, the State School and Mass Education Minister, Samir Ranjan Das today said that the textbooks of class I to VIII have already reached blocks and schools and it will be ensured that the books are delivered to the students by April 25.
"The textbooks of Class-I to VIII have already been sent to all the schools in Puri, where the doorstep delivery will be implemented first and then other districts will follow the suit soon. The Puri district Collector and the District Education Officer (DEO) will ensure delivery of the books to the students before April 25," said Das.
Though the class IX exams have concluded, the evaluation process is yet to begin. Evaluation of answer sheets of class X and XII exams will start after the nationwide lockdown ends on May 3, informed Das.
Also Read: COVID-19 Lockdown: Odisha Allows E-Commerce Platforms To Resume Operations
"We are planning to send the answer sheets to homes of evaluators, but the government is yet to take a decision in this regard. Also, plans are afoot for online teaching for class IX and X students through DIKSHA App. However, the online teaching process will take some time to start," said Das.
Text books of Class-1 to 8 have already been sent to all the schools in #Puri. The district Collector & DEO will ensure doorstep delivery of books to the students before 25th April. Other districts will soon follow suit: #Odisha Minister Samir Ranjan Das#OdishaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/V9kFFNp4OB
— OTV (@otvnews) April 14, 2020
Earlier, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered closure of all schools and colleges in the State till June 17. The State government also announced that the students of classes I to IX and XI will be promoted to the next class sans exams.
On the other hand, Class-X textbooks in Odisha for 2020-21 academic session has been changed. The Board of Secondary Education-Odisha secretary today informed about the change of books in eight subjects and said that the textbooks will be provided to students after the coronavirus lockdown ends on May 3.
Read More: Odisha Reports 5 COVID-19 Cases In 24 Hours, 4 From Bhubaneswar
Some inmates have also been relocated to less-crowded jails, DGP (prison) S K Upadhyay said.
"We have (temporarily) released 3,481 undertrial prisoners and convicts. They were allowed to go home following a thorough judicial process," he told PTI on Thursday.
The district undertrial review committee, led by judges, took the decision to grant bail after going through the records of the inmates.
Also Read: 7 Prisoners Released In Odisha On Gandhi Jayanti
Those involved in cases inviting a maximum punishment of 10 years were given priority, Upadhyay said.
Similarly, the ones that have already served at least five years' sentence were considered for parole.
"Local police have been told not to take any coercive action against those released due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis," the DGP (prison) said.
New prisoners were being placed under quarantine for 14 days before allowing them to share jail cells with other inmates, he stated.
Also Read: Odisha Govt Issues SOPs For COVID-19 Containment Zones
"All NGO activities in the jails have also been suspended for the time being. This apart, steps have also been taken for arranging 'e-mulakats' (e-meetings) between the inmates and their family members," Upadhyay said, adding that jail officials, including cooks, have been told to maintain hygiene on prison premises.
(PTI)
In a letter to the district collectors, Labour Secretary Anu Garg said the safety of women and girls in those camps should be given utmost priority and provision of sanitary napkins should be made available through NGOs.
Also Read: COVID-19 Lockdown: Odisha launched WhatsApp no to curb domestic violence
Besides, proper sanitation, especially toilets, provision of soaps, masks, sanitisers, mosquito nets should also be made in the camps giving shelter to migrant workers, referred to as guest workers in Odisha.
Subroto Bagchi, the state's spokesperson on COVID-19, said food and accommodation along with health facilities have been provided at 2,583 camps for around 77,500 "guest workers".
These workers are from various states. Any complaint received through Shramik Sahayata call centre -- 18003456703 -- is being addressed promptly, he said.
Labour Secretary Anu Garg in her letter said that trained counsellors available in the districts be utlised for providing psychological counseling to the workers.
Since for many, language may be a barrier, you may identify people in the district/ their Samaj, who could converse with them in their language, Garg said in the letter.
Stating that many districts have already provided medical help to the migrant workers, Garg asked the collectors to undertake a review of the situation.
Also Read: Covid-19 Lockdown: Help Extended To Thousands Of Stranded Odia Migrant Workers
(PTI)
"The recent confirmed cases had come in direct contact with some doctors & paramedical staff at the medical outdoor ward. So we have put all of them in quarantine at the Jajpur COVID care centre. All their family members have also been advised to remain in home quarantine," said Das.
Also Read: Odisha Fights Corona: Bed Capacity Increased To 5,000
"This morning, we discussed on the ground situation with BDOs, Tehsildar, IICs, CDPO and local field functionaries through video conferencing. A surveillance team of the government will also reach the district to look after augmentation of services, suggest fresh protocol if any, issue advisory for doctors, and if required streamline the arrangements in place now," the Collector informed.
Throwing more light on the strategy of the administration, Das informed, "Around 700 people who have returned from West Bengal and other neighbouring States have registered themselves. There are many other WB returnees who did not register, may be out of fear. So we have directed the local authorities and police to trace all these people and compulsorily put them in the government quarantine facility. Those violating private quarantine guidelines also would be shifted to government centres."
"The contact tracing of the recent cases is complete. Sample testing will be done today. Active surveillance and door to door survey will commence in the containment zones today. The positive thing is there is no indication of community spread of the virus so far," Das said.
Also Read: COVID Comfort For Odisha: Doubling Rate Gets Longer In State!
Post a field inspection of Balasore today along with DGP Abhay, State Revenue Divisional Commissioner Anil Samal said that a large number of people have trespassed into the district from neighbouring States in the past two months. "The WB returnees have been enlisted. Those who have returned in the last 14 days are being identified and placed under quarantine. Sample testing of these persons will be done on a priority basis," he said.
We've received information that people have trespassed into Balasore from WB through unauthorised ambulance rides & by crossing adjoining farm lands with WB border. Appropriate action will be taken against them for violating lockdown guideline: RDC Anil Samal#OdishaFightsCorona https://t.co/3KYEO7AoQz pic.twitter.com/z4F2QClaLL
— OTV (@otvnews) April 21, 2020
Odisha government is seriously looking into the post lockdown situation as around 7.5 lakh people are eagerly waiting to return to the State, said D K Singh, Principal Secretary of the Panchayati Raj department.
During the press briefing on COVID19 situation in the State, Singh said that Odisha government is going to have an online portal soon where people wanting to return to Odisha will have to register themselves.
“The registration process will begin from April 24, and no person will be allowed to return to the State without registration on the government portal. The registration will help the government know the number of people who will return to the State and the places from which they will come and their destination in Odisha,” said Singh adding that it will help the government make necessary arrangements for them.
Also Read: COVID-19 Lockdown: SOP For Movement Of Goods, Labour & Vehicle Repair Shops
There are three ways to register on the portal- the returnees can themselves get their names registered on the portal, someone else can also register their names or their relatives can fill-up a form and submit the same at concerned gram panchayats where officials will make the registration.
Once people from outside arrive in the state at a particular bus stand or railway station, the concerned block officials will take them to temporary medical camps for a 14-day mandatory quarantine, stated Singh adding that a total of around 7,000 medical camps have already been set up at the gram panchayats across the State.
“No one will be allowed to directly go home. They will have to stay at the quarantine centres for 14 days; and if no symptoms are found during the period, they will be allowed to go home,” he said.
“The government will chalk out its plan after getting details of the number of people set to return to different gram panchayats in the State after the COVID restrictions are lifted. We have currently 2 lakh beds at the medical camps but we expect that around 5 lakh people will return to the State and hence, we will increase the bed number to 5 lakh,” Singh added.
Earlier today, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had administered oath to over 6,700 Sarpanchs to work towards keeping their areas free from the Coronavirus infection. He had earlier bestowed the power of district collector to the village heads/sarpanchs.
Read More: 25 Staff Of Private Tamil News Channel Test COVID-19 Positive
“I am sure, if you sincerely follow the government's guidelines, Coronavirus cannot enter in villages and panchayats. Do good work. Me and my government are with you," Patnaik told the Sarpanchs.
As per the State Health and Family Welfare Department, the deceased was a 77-year-old Male of Madhusudan Nagar in Bhubaneswar and he had underlying co-morbidities of hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease.
A 77-year-old (male) #COVID19 patient of Madhusudan Nagar, Bhubaneswar who had underlying co-morbidities of hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease expired yesterday at KIMS: #Odisha Health & Family Welfare Dept#COVIDー19 #OdishaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/8bBQihKj9M
— OTV (@otvnews) May 6, 2020
Odisha had reported its first COVID-19 fatality on April 7 when a 72-year-old man infected with coronavirus died in Bhubaneswar. The victim had reportedly died on April 6 but the report confirming that he tested positive for the virus arrived a day later.
The deceased from Jharpada area in Bhubaneswar was admitted to AIIMS in Odisha on April 4 with complaint of respiratory distress.
Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Odisha reached 177 today with the detection of one more positive case from Ganjam district- an 18-year male and Surat returnee.
#COVID19 update, 6th May
The positive case reported from Ganjam district today is an 18-year male & Surat returnee. His contact tracing & follow-up action being done: I&PR Dept#COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/QfUTtRa2qC
— OTV (@otvnews) May 6, 2020
Out of the 177 cases, 115 are active cases while 60 affected persons have recovered so far. The death toll now stands at 2. A total of 2791 RT-PCR tests were conducted in Odisha in the last 24 hours.
Earlier on Tuesday, Cuttack reported its second COVID-19 positive case. Apart from Cuttack, six more confirmed cases were reported from other districts like Jajpur, Balasore, Sundergarh and Ganjam.
Jajpur district has now the maximum number of cases at 53, followed by Khurda 47, Balasore 24, Bhadrak 21 and Sundargarh 12. Besides, Jajpur has the highest 52 active COVID-19 cases, followed by 20 in Balasore and 15 in Khurda district.
This emerging big trend in the State has been measured by IIT Delhi's COVID tracking AICSEIR model. The model has calculated the R0 value of all states, including Odisha, by taking into account the current confirmed COVID positive cases in the states.
It is the R0 value that will determine the quantum of COVID surge in any State. And the major concern for the State is, the R0 value as on May 4 here is estimated at 1.98, which means one positive person is infecting nearly 2 others. On May 4, Odisha had confirmed 170 COVID positive cases. The cases have grown in the meantime to touch 245 on May 7.
In April, the R0 value was estimated at around mere 1.1, which means the secondary infection rate was limited to only one individual. This is the reason behind the State's lower doubling rate during the month.
The key fallout of this higher R0 value on Odisha is, COVID cases in Odisha will double at a very faster rate in May.
A glance at the state-wise data reveals that the R0 value in Odisha now stands higher than many high-burden states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. (See the image below)
As on May 4,the highest R0 value in the country is measured in Bihar. The value is estimated at 2.95, means one COVID positive in Bihar infects three others. Jharkhand followed Bihar with a value of 2.13, reveals the IIT-Delhi COVID report. The higher R0 value in three prominent eastern states, including Odisha, hints at where the upcoming COVID surge is going to happen in the country.
Maharashtra, country's COVID capital, has a value of 1.88. The value for another high-burden state Gujarat is estimated at 1.79. Delhi has a value of mere 0.94. R0 value for other high-burden states like TN, MP and Rajasthan is estimated at 0.95, 1.51 and 1.15, respectively.
The cases of COVID positives in the state are increasing quite briskly. When the IIT-D model has predicted that total COVID positives in Odisha would reach 244 by evening of May 10, the reality is State reported 245 cases on May 7 itself.
The prediction made by IIT-D is Odisha will record 813 COVID positive cases by the evening of May 24.
It is exactly this that is giving nightmares to State health administration, as a massive 4,411 quarantine norm violations have been recorded by the State COVID cell till date.
In the last 24 hours, the State COVID cell had made nearly 6,550 calls to monitor the individuals in quarantine in State. During the routine monitoring, as many as 16 quarantine violations were reported during the same period.
The State government has set up nearly 12,000 quarantine centres across the 6,798 panchayats in the State. When 54,389 have completed their quarantine period in the State, 4,332 are still in quarantine in the centres.
As per the data available with State Health department, during the course of monitoring quarantine norms, the State COVID cell has generated red alert report against 4,411 individuals till date, including 16 violations during last 24 hours.
These individuals have been found defying the quarantine protocol and indulging in risky behaviour. Though major chunk of violations were detected among individuals in home quarantine, a sizable chunk of violations were also reported from institutional centres, said sources.
In this crucial phase, strict enforcement of quarantine norms (institution and home) will make Odisha's battle with COVID easier. Recently, out of 28-days quarantine, State government has made 7 days home quarantine mandatory. The 28-day quarantine will help Odisha in eliminating the risk of COVID spread from asymptomatic corona positives.
When strict quarantine observance is a key to fight against COVID successfully, data shows only 30 per cent of calls made could materialise. The rate during last fortnight was around 27 per cent.
In order to bring COVID suspects under regular surveillance, the State government has made it mandatory for the authorities to call twice to persons living in quarantine. But the calls met with non-cooperation from individuals in home quarantine or in temporary medical camps.
For instance, the State authorities have made 6,190 calls on May 6 to individuals living in quarantine, but it could reach out to only 1436. The reach out proportion stood at mere 23 per cent. The trend shows the average response to State government's quarantine check out calls had been around 30 per cent.
However, the State COVID cell claimed an improvement during the last 48 hours. Sources said the reach out proportion has increased to around 70 per cent during the last 48 hours.
An analysis of the confirmed COVID cases in major states during the period of May 1-11 reveals that Odisha with an average of 27 confirmed cases per day is at a distant 13th place in the country. While Maharashtra topped the tally with 1230 cases per day during the period, Tamil Nadu is ranked at number 2 with 798 cases/day.
The other states down the order are: Gujarat (347), Delhi (310), Rajasthan (174), MP (171), WB (124), UP (106), Telangana (79), Punjab (54), Bihar (42), Haryana (27) and Odisha (27).
Among the earlier high-burden states, Kerala's daily confirmed COVID cases per day now stands at mere 7, which shows the graph has flattened in this southern state. Kerala's success of not only flattening the curve, but bending it downhill holds many lessons for Odisha. The success of Kerala lies in successful implementation of quarantine policy, which the Odisha government is now emphasising in a big way.
The major observation, however, is while many high burden states have posted a decline in number of confirmed COVID cases/day during last 48 hours, the cases are on the ascent in Odisha.
But the subtle difference between Odisha and other high-burden states is, while the cases detected in the high burden states are cases of local transmission, Odisha witnessed a spurt in imported cases only. Since local cases result in the vicious cycle of contact tracing, the risk of multiple progression in COVID cases exists there.
However, this is not the case for Odisha. As the cases detected in May are mostly confined to quarantine centres, so the COVID scenario in the State doesn’t seem alarming.
The numbers further tell a tale. While the growth posted by confirmed cases in the State in April stood overwhelmingly at around 3,475 per cent, the growth rate during the last 11-days stood at 206 per cent. The highly abnormal growth rate in April was attributed to low base figure of COVID cases in March.
Another discerning fact is, when the average growth rate of COVID cases in the State during April stood at around 18 per cent, the average growth rate during the first 11 days of May is estimated lower at around 10 per cent.
The bottom line, however, is even at this current compounded growth rate of around 10 per cent, the indications suggest the confirmed COVID cases in Odisha will expectedly cross the 600 count by May 16.
However, the cheering part of Odisha COVID story is the Corona curve will anyway go flat from August. And sunset of Coronavirus on the Odisha horizon looks a strong probability by the festive season of October.
But before that, the corona curve is projected to go berserk in Odisha. The projected peak numbers look numbing and also overwhelming. In June and July, Odisha is projected to record total peak corona infections to the tune of a mind-boggling 46.22 lakh! The number projected is around 10 per cent of total population of the State (4.5 crore).
The scary COVID peak projections for Odisha have been estimated by no lesser mortals. This has been put forth by a joint research team of John Hopkins University, Princeton University and Centre for Disease Dynamics Economics & Policies. The joint model is a SEIR model, which has taken into account the population in Odisha who are infected, recovered, exposed and/or are prone to COVID-19. The model has projected the scenario for Odisha based on the data for the month of April, and was published in the same month.
As per the details of the study, the model puts that the total base line projections of total corona infections in Odisha at a massive 53.905 lakh.
But the peak infection numbers in June and July will be around 46 lakh, as the model has projected total infections by taking into account the R naught (R0) value for Odisha during hard lockdown as 1.5 and assuming it to touch 2.4, post moderate relaxations in the lockdown.
In simple words, the study says post moderation in lockdown, one infected individual will infect more than two others, which will then trigger the geometric progression of COVID transmission in Odisha.
But the peak hospitalisation requirement has been estimated at a colossal 63,331 (average value).
The number looks very mean vis-a-vis total peak infections. The reason is attributed to projection of 10.74 lakh symptomatic but non-hospitalised infections and asymptomatic cases. The simple inference here is, as per the joint study, majority of the peak infections will either have mild infections or asymptomatic, who don't need hospitalisation.
However, when Odisha government has only 5,493 COVID beds, the peak projected hospitalisation requirement of over 63,000 for the State is simply numbing. This is a figure that has the potential to wilt down the health infra of Odisha.
In a related but big development, Odisha government today decided to limit the mandatory institutional quarantine days to mere 7 days from 21 days earlier. The back-tracking is mostly seen as the sheer number of returnees that overwhelm the quarantine infra created in the State.
As on today nearly 2.5 lakh have returned to State, and another equal numbers are waiting for their turn to return.
When such is the pressure on Odisha's health infra, and as the hard lockdown today was moulded to a moderate one, the fear of COVID spread to rural Odisha looms large.
This is not a mere hunch. Only recently, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had spoken to the health ministers of emerging hotspot states - UP, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal. Since majority of Shramik trains end up in these 4 states, Vardhan had asked the states to chalk out a strategy to prevent COVID transmission to the rural areas.
Sources say health Minister Vardhan had even enquired about the COVID containment strategy straight from the DMs of the districts like Ganjam and Jajpur .
State BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said that the State government is not following the standard operating procedure (SOP) for COVID-19 testing at the quarantine centres. Though there is a provision to conduct the test of quarantined people within five days, it's not happening in Odisha, he alleged.
"From the very beginning, we had assured the State government of all assistance and said that in case of any mismanagement at quarantine centres, we will bring it to notice. Not conducting COVID-19 test of people seems like a conspiracy of the government to super-spread the virus in the rural belt," said Harichandan.
If the State government doesn't follow the SOP, the BJP will stage protests against the ruling-BJD, warned Harichandan.
Responding to the allegations, ruling-BJD MLA, Debi Mishra said that by keeping people at quarantine centres the State has been able to contain the spread of the virus so far.
"A 14-day quarantine helps people recover and also reduces social contact to limit opportunities for transmission of the virus," said Mishra.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants everyone to come together to fight the virus, everyone should rise to the occasion and avoid blame game else it will have adverse effect on the progress made so far, he added.
Allegations from lack of basic facilities, mismanagement to irregularities in food distribution at quarantine centres have surfaced from across the State.
It is also alleged that the State is not following the guidelines issued for establishment of quarantine centres, including securing the entry and exit points, deploying trained human resources, catering, ensuring adequate toilets and other related activities.
Urging people to take maximum precaution during this period, he said adherence to quarantine guideline, Covid-19 protocol and self-restraint are the only means to fight this infection.
To control the spread, a two-day weekend shutdown started in 11 of the 30 districts with high Covid-19 cases. The shutdown on Saturdays and Sundays will continue in these districts till the end of the month.
Only essential services are allowed in the 11 districts - Ganjam, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Bolangir.
Meanwhile, the state government warned of action against the people returning from abroad for not responding to calls from 104 or the state call centre.
"All foreign returnees should cooperate and take calls on their registered numbers from 104/state call centre. Keeping phones in switched off mode or non-acknowledgement of calls will be viewed as jumping of home quarantine and liable to be prosecuted as per penal provisions," said the health department.
As many as 112 Covid-19 patients in Odisha have recovered from the disease on Saturday, bringing the total recoveries in the State to 1716.
Earlier in the day, Odisha witnessed the highest single-day spike of coronavirus with detection of 173 new cases, taking the total tally to in the State to 2781. Of the total positives, a highest 64 COVID-19 cases have been reported from Ganjam district, followed by 19 from Jajpur and 13 each from Cuttack and Mayurbhanj districts.
(With Agency Inputs)
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Of the new cases, 97 were detected from quarantine and 13 are local contacts, added the I & PR department.
Jagatsinghpur district reported highest 33 coronavirus cases followed by Cuttack (20), Khurda (14), Gajapati (11), Puri (7), Rayagada (4), Nayagarh (4), Kalahandi (4) and Mayurbhanj (4).
Similarly, Bargarh district reported two cases, Jharsuguda, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Kendrapara, Koraput, Keonjar and Boudh reported one each cases of coronavirus infection.
District-wise #Covid19 cases reported in #Odisha today -
Jagatsinghpur: 33
Raygada: 4
Cuttack: 20
Jharsuguda: 1
Khordha: 14
Nayagarh: 4
Bargarh: 2
Bhadrak: 1
Kalahandi: 4
Gajapati: 11
Puri: 7
Bolangir: 1
Kendrapada: 1
Mayurbhanj: 4
Koraput: 1
Keonjhar: 1
Boudh: 1-- I&PR Dept pic.twitter.com/H9bYid8D0p
— OTV (@otvnews) June 10, 2020
Here's the details of Covid-19 cases in Jagatsinghpur:
Jagatsinghpur administration gives details of 33 new #Covid19 cases detected in the district today.
All of them are asymptomatic and are being shifted to COVID hospitals in Paradip and KIIMS. pic.twitter.com/ijPH0V1DXn
— OTV (@otvnews) June 10, 2020
Details of Covid-19 cases in Mayurbhanj:
Mayurbhanj district administration shares details of 4 new #Covid_19 cases detected in the district in last 24 hours #Odisha pic.twitter.com/ALCKgiOPgf
— OTV (@otvnews) June 10, 2020
With this, the number of active Covid-19 cases now stands at 1106 while 2133 patients have so far recuperated and 9 persons have lost their lives due to the disease.
A total of 3026 RT-PCR tests were conducted in the last 24 hours in Odisha taking the cumulative tests to 185410.
With 110 new #Corona cases, #Odisha's total positives now stand at 3250. Recoveries 2133 while active cases rise to 1106
RT-PCR tests conducted in last 24 hours 3026 & cumulative tests 185410#COVID19India #Covid19 pic.twitter.com/S7A866NRYm
— OTV (@otvnews) June 10, 2020
Meanwhile, Rayagada Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) and all staff of his office were sent into home quarantine after a vaccine inspector posted at the office tested positive for Covid-19.
Earlier on Tuesday, 146 persons were tested positive for coronavirus while at least 140 persons recuperated from Covid-19 in Odisha.
Yesterday, four doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Bhubaneswar were found positive for Covid-19. The doctors who have contracted Covid-19 include three senior and one junior resident doctor of the premier health institute.
Similarly, a doctor and a nurse of Nayagarh district headquarters hospital (DHH) were also found positive for coronavirus infection on June 8.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
Also Read:
No Extension Of COVID-19 Weekend Shutdown In Odisha: SRC
COVID-19 Recoveries Cross 2100 Mark In Odisha
Out of the total cases detected in 29 districts of the State, a total of 1,733 cases were reported from quarantine centers while the rest 1,256 were local transmission cases.
The death cases were reported from Kalahandi and Keonjhar districts, said the State Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) Department.
Similarly, while nine districts registered a three-digit figure, Sundergarh district topped the list with 631 cases, followed by Khordha (438), Kalahandi (260), Cuttack (208), Nuapada (151) and Sambalpur(148).
With the inclusion of Thursday’s figure, the number of total cases in the State surged to 3,58,342 while 1,935 have succumbed to the disease till date and 3,41,733 patients have been cured or recovered. The active cases in the State stood at 14,621 on Thursday, added the Health and Family Welfare Department.
The State has so far tested a total of 94,61,720 samples including 33,251 on Tuesday. Odisha’s positivity rate stands at 3.76 per cent.
(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)
Of the fresh cases, 1804 patients are from quarantine, while 1249 are local contact cases, informed State I&PR department.
Cases continue to rise steadily in Khordha district as it reported 561 positives, followed by Cuttack 256, and Jharsuguda 146.
#Odisha reports new 3053 #COVID19 cases including 1804 from quarantine & 1249 local contacts.
Khordha records maximum cases among all districts with 561 new positives followed by Cuttack with 256 cases.
Total positives in the State rise to 229387. pic.twitter.com/tZWmiVwnrp
— OTV (@otvnews) October 3, 2020
This apart, 17persons succumbed to the disease in a span of 24 hours. Three COVID-19 deaths were reported from Balasore and Dhenkanal district, two deaths each from Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, Puri while one each succumbed in Bhadrak, Ganjam, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Nayagarh districts.
17 patients under treatment in hospitals succumb to #Covid19 in the last 24 hours. Death toll rises to 892.
(State Dashboard) pic.twitter.com/tLmtki8sof
— OTV (@otvnews) October 3, 2020
The total number of patients in Odisha who have recovered from the disease stands at 194128, while active case count is 34314.
Official reports reveal 46,404 samples were tested on Friday for COVID-19 that include 7961 RT-PCR, 38385 samples via Antigen testing, and 58 samples via Truenat testing, taking the number of samples tested cumulatively across the state to 3395265.
Read More:
India’s COVID-19 Death Toll Crosses One Lakh
However, like Maharashtra, it’s only three districts in Odisha that have become the three-alarm fire for the State.
While Nuapada is zipping fast towards the ‘critical’ incidence zone, Sundargarh and Bhubaneswar have already in the ‘high-risk’ incidence zone in the State.
WILL NUAPADA TURN ‘CRITICAL’?
The new daily confirmed cases in the western Odisha district bordering Chhattisgarh have recorded a 5-times jump during the last 4-days. On April 6, the daily new cases were mere 31, the count touched 135 on April 9.
With the quantum surge, the daily confirmed cases per lakh population in the State hovered at over 20. As per WHO, if the total new daily cases cross the value of 25 per lakh, then the Covid-19 incidence in the city/state/district will come under the ‘Critical’ stage.
Even as the recovery rate in the district is higher at 43 per cent vis-a-vis State average of 22 per cent, the gap between caseload rate (CLR) and recovery rate is still very wide as the CLR is estimated at around 57 per cent.
THE EVIDENCE: New cases have been coming from all blocks. Ground reports suggest a rural spread in the district.
WILL ‘HIGH-RISK’ SUNDARGARH DETERIORATE?
This another western Odisha district has been bearing the major burden in State’s rising caseload. With 355 new cases, the district sits at the top in Covid-19 cases.
During the last 4-days, the daily new cases have clocked a near 2.5 times growth. The cases on April 6 were 147, today the tally is 355 new cases.
Given the surge in the district, the daily confirmed cases per lakh people have taken a jump to 15.4 from around 8 on April 6. In a span of 4-days, the Covid-19 incidence in the district has become ‘high-risk’.
The fear of the situation deteriorating further looms large as the recovery rate in the district for the last 4-days stood at below 10 per cent, whereas the caseload is hovering at around 80 per cent.
THE EVIDENCE: Though over 60 per cent of new cases have come from Sundargarh town and Rourkela city, the rural spread looms large as cases have started pouring in a big from villages like Kantabahal, Bisra, Bandega etc.
CORONA SHOWING ‘CAPITAL’ GROWTH IN ODISHA CAPITAL?
The second wave scenario in Bhubaneswar growing acute day by day. A look at the caseload and recovery rate tells the ground tale.
While the daily cases per lakh population today has risen to 14.7 from 12.9 yesterday, the caseload rate in the Capital City jumped to 69 per cent today from 54 per cent on April 6. On the other hand, the recovery rate has slipped to 31 per cent today from 45 per cent on April 6.
The rising gap between caseload and recovery rate in the Smart City indicates challenging days ahead.
THE EVIDENCE: Notwithstanding cases being detected from new localities, a downpour of new cases have also been reported from the clusters like Khandagiri and Nayapalli. As per epidemiologists, the covid-19 spread in the City is happening both horizontally and vertically, which is not a good sign, they opined.
As per the State Health department data, a total of 210 fresh Covid cases have been reported from various parts of the State while one patient died due to the infection in the last 24 hours. Of the total positives, 124 were detected in quarantine centres while the rest 86 are local transmission cases.
The death has been reported from Sundargarh district. Khordha district with 51 cases topped the positive list among all the districts today. Nuapada continued to report another big surge with 23 fresh infections in the last 24 hours.
While 19 cases were reported from Cuttack, the districts of Kalahandi, Sundargarh and Bolangir reported 12 cases each, said the Health Department.
With the inclusion of today’s figures, the cumulative infected cases in the State has gone up to 3,39,904 while the death toll surged to 1,920. Odisha now has 1,449 active cases while 3,36,482 patients have recovered from the infection so far, said a release issued by the State I&PR Department.
The State has so far tested over 89,49,599 samples for Covid-19 tests including 28,828 on Thursday. Odisha’s positivity rate stands at 3.8 per cent, a data released by the Health and Family Welfare department said.