Odisha’s Health Director Says Rising COVID Cases Across India Can’t Be Termed Fourth Wave; Know Why

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra on Monday said the current spike in COVID-19 cases across the country cannot be termed as the fourth wave.

He said only seven-eight districts in Odisha were at present reporting COVID cases and the situation in the state wasn’t alarming. Advising people to exercise caution, Mishra said daily tests had been increased as per ICMR guidelines.

Odisha reported 13 cases in the last 24 hours from eight districts. Thirteen districts — Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Jharsuguda — have become COVID-free.

On Monday, India reported 2,183 cases, an 89.8% jump from 1,150 cases on Sunday. In nearly a month, India has for the first time recorded over 2,000 cases in a day. Before this, 2,075 cases were recorded on March 19.

Delhi reported 517 cases on Monday. A day before, the city reported 461 cases.

Amid the spike, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday made wearing of mask compulsory in Lucknow and six NCR districts —Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Bulandshahr and Baghpat.

In the last 24 hours, 65 cases were detected in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 20 in Ghaziabad and 10 in Lucknow.