Odisha government is currently seeking expert opinion on lockdown extension in the state. Odisha Health Services Director Bijay Mohapatra on Thursday (May 27) stated that the government is currently reviewing the Covid-19 situation in the state and a decision regarding lockdown extension will be taken only after getting opinions of experts. Mohapatra also stated that the positivity rate in Odisha has decreased from over 20 percent to 14 percent and will most likely reduce gradually.
Meanwhile, speaking about Cyclone Yaas’s effect on Covid, Mohapatra clarified that no discrepancies occurred during the relocation of some Covid patients before the natural calamity. He also said that lesser tests were conducted due to the cyclone landfall yesterday. Odisha Health Director, Bijay Mohapatra said, If today only 6000 people have tested positive, then that’s because less tests were conducted. But if we see the rate, as I say every day, the positivity rate has declined.
People who are dying are the ones undergoing treatment for a prolonged period of time at the hospitals, as I had mentioned some days back as well. In the ICUs, yesterday, around 79 – 80 percent occupancy was there. Ventilator occupancy was 50 percent. Therefore, as I always say, we still have serious patients. If you see, our positivity rate earlier more than 20 percent earlier and now it has reduced to 14 percent. If we take care, then it will remain 14 percent and slowly it will come down.
Technically regarding the lockdown, as we had said earlier, the effects of the lockdown are witnessed after 4-6 weeks. If we announce a lockdown today, you won’t see its effect tomorrow. But we are taking the opinions of all experts, even the opinions of experts from other states, based on which, the government will decide regarding extension. None of the Covid infrastructures were damaged. We had shifted some Covid patients to the hospital and we have had no disruption in Covid management.