Bhubaneswar: Amid reports of the deaths of two Covid-19 patients in India following rise in infections in parts of Asia, Odisha government has stepped up its vigilance.
While no case of the new JN.1 subvariant has been detected in the state, health officials have urged people, especially those with comorbidities, to stay alert and take precautionary measures.
Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra said no fresh coronavirus cases has been reported in the state so far. If anyone is found to be positive for Covid-19, the patient’s sample would be sent for genome sequencing to determine the virus variant, he said.
“No fresh COVID case has been detected so far in the state. If any case is detected, the patient’s sample will be sent for genome sequencing to determine the variant,” he told reporters.
Health authorities in the country are closely monitoring the rise in COVID-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong. However, official sources said the current coronavirus situation in the country is under control.
“People, particularly those with co-morbidities, must remain cautious and follow standard precautionary measures,” Mishra said.
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s civic-run KEM Hospital clarified on Monday that the deaths of two patients at the facility were due to co-morbidities and not directly linked to COVID-19. The hospital urged people not to panic.
The deaths — of a 14-year-old girl and a 54-year-old woman — who were COVID-19 positive, were reported at King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Parel, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a statement.
