Tag: Covid

After ILS (Institute of Life Sciences) Bhubaneswar confirmed detection of two ‘Omicron’ variant cases in Odisha, state Public Health Director, Niranjan Mishra on Tuesday (Dec 21) revealed more information on the newly detected cases.

The unprecedented infectiousness of the Omicron variant and its possible ability to evade the immune system have stoked concerns across the nation. However, experts said preliminary data suggest the new variant appear to cause less severe symptoms and hospitalisations.

The other countries with over 5 million cases are the UK (11,518,116), Russia (10,064,290), Turkey (9,191,851), France (8,745,272), Germany (6,834,488), Iran (6,173,369), Spain (5,535,231), Italy (5,405,360), Argentina (5,395,044) and Colombia (5,109,022), the CSSE figures showed.

The Odisha Health Services Director, Bijay Mohapatra on Saturday (Dec 18) said that the new variant of Covid-19, called ‘Omicron’ is highly transmissible in nature. However, Mohapatra also informed that no data has emerged till date regarding the efficacy of vaccines or the mortality rate of the new variant.

Most side effects were mild to moderate and transient. Fever was very rare. The most common side effects in the vaccine recipients included pain and tenderness at the injection site, headache, muscle aches and fatigue that lasted a day on average. None of the recipients developed serious reactions like heart inflammation (myocarditis) or blood clots.

Giving details of Omicron cases in India, it said Maharashtra has reported 32 cases of the variant, Delhi (22), Rajasthan (17), Karnataka (8), Telangana (8), Gujarat (5), Kerala (5), Andhra Pradesh (1), Chandigarh (1), Tamil Nadu (1) and West Bengal (1), the government said.

Asked about it, a senior Health Department official said: "We cannot confirm whether he is negative from a single test. At least two tests are required and we have collected his specimen today."

Several students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Kaptipada of Mayurbhanj district reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 virus triggering fears. Prior to this, as many as 10 students of a government run girl’s school at Bolangir district had tested positive for COVID-19, while in Bhubaneswar two students of Capital High School and more than 10 teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya-1 tested positive.

After Omicron variant of Covid-19 was detected in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh, the Odisha Directorate of Medical Education & Training Chief, Rama Raman Mohanty on Monday (Dec 13) allayed fears and assured that the State is prepared.

Amid the rising scare of the Omicron variant, State Health & Family Welfare Director, Bijay Panigrahi on Monday (Dec 13) informed that as many as 41 lakh people in Odisha are yet to take their first dose of the Covid vaccine. This accounts for almost 13 per cent of the total beneficiaries in the state.

Amidst the scare of the new Covid-19 variant ‘Omicron’, the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) in Bhubaneswar has confirmed that the new variant has not been detected in any of the 246 COVID19 positive samples.

As many as two students and more than 10 teachers have been tested positive for Covid-19 at different schools in Bhubaneswar.

People should remain alert at community-level since children would be at risk in case a surge happens, cautioned Odisha Health Director, Bijay Mohapatra on Wednesday (Dec 8).

The Odisha Family Welfare Director, Bijay Panigrahi on Saturday (Dec 4) revealed that the Covid-19 vaccination in the state has been stopped temporarily due to Cyclone Jawad which is likely to reach near Coast on Dec 5th.

Amidst the looming threat of the new ‘Omicron’ variant of Covid-19 virus, the Odisha government said that it is prepared to tackle any situation.