Bhubaneswar: With people crowding COVID-19 vaccination Centres (CVCs) in the city for taking the jab, COVID-19 observer for Bhubaneswar city Anu Garg and BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary toured the session sites to assess the situation on the ground on Thursday.
The two officers visited BMC Hospital near Lingaraj temple, Baragada and Unit-III Primary Health Centre.
During the visit, the officers were informed that some people had queued up at the centres without slot booking which in turn led to crowding thus defeating the purpose of breaking the COVID chain.
Talking to media persons, Principal Secretary, Water Resources and WCD department Anu Garg observed that the people are eager to take the vaccine for which they are reaching the centres earlier than their slot booking time which is leading to the rush. She said, the centre authorities as well as people have been advised not to rush the sites and wait for their slot.
Informing about the measures taken in view of the heat, Garg said arrangements for water facility have been made and people asked to make separate rows for men and women.
On the other hand, Chaudhary said directions have been issued to separate the testing and vaccination rooms to further streamline the process. At many centres, this has already been separated, he added.
The officers’ tour come a day after Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra urged only those people not to crowd COVID-19 vaccination Centres (CVCs). He said only those who received appointment confirmation messages on their mobile phones to check the spread of the virus.
Mahapatra asked senior officers of the administration to visit different places where crowding has been reported.
