Bhubaneswar: The second wave of COVID-19 seems to be claiming more people without co-morbidities, which was considered a major reason behind the deaths of patients in Odisha during the first wave last year.
The state has seen 54 patients succumbing to the infection since April 1, according to the Health and Family Welfare Department tweets.
Eight deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Among them was a 29-year-old from Balasore district. He and five other deceased had no co-morbidities.
Also Read: Odisha Reports 8 COVID-19 Deaths For 2nd Day In Row; 29-Yr-Old Youngest Victim
Similarly, six among the eight, who died on Friday (April 23), were not suffering from any disease other than COVID-19.
Nuapada district has reported seven fatalities this Month and among the victims were two aged 24 and 38 years. The 24-year-old was admitted to hospital with low oxygen saturation on April 8 and died two days later, Health Department sources said.
Also Read: Odisha’s Nuapada COVID-19 Toll Mismatch Fuels Need For Reality Check
More than half of the 54 deceased in Odisha had no co-morbidities.
A report published in The New Indian Express said that most of them were hospitalized only after their oxygen saturation dropped below 70 per cent and they consumed alcohol regularly.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Balram Bhargava had earlier told media that a “higher” proportion of patients admitted to hospitals this year, in the second wave, experienced shortness of breath.
Among the fatalities, nearly 35 per cent are in the age group of 25 to 45.
Director of Health Services Dr Bijay Mohapatra said that the young are now most vulnerable for not complying with the COVID appropriate behaviour. “Going by data, the vaccine is helping people to fight COVID-19. Only 50 have got infected after taking the shots,” he added.
Odisha has so far vaccinated 55,50,380 eligible beneficiaries. Vaccination for people above the age of 18 years will begin on May 1.
