Centre Flags Rising Cases, Declining Tests In Odisha; 667% Increase In Weekly Caseload In This Dist

Bhubaneswar: The Centre has expressed concern over the rise in weekly COVID caseload in six districts of Odisha during the week ending December 3 against November 20- 26.

In a letter to Odisha Health Secretary RK Sharma, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that that the state had reported 7445 new cases in the month ending December 4, contributing 2.5 per cent to India’s total. “Khurda district is reporting high quantum of weekly new cases, 900 in the week ending December 3,” he wrote.

The letter mentioned about 666.7 per cent rise in weekly caseload in Dhenkanal, followed by 250 per cent in Kandhamal, 150 per cent in Nabarangpur, 109 per cent in Keonjhar, 95 per cent in Angul and 75 per cent in Balangir.

The Union Health Secretary further mentioned about 3.1 per cent decline in weekly tests from 4,01,164 between November 20-26 to 3,88,788 during the week ending December 3.

“In this context, required necessary steps to control the spread of infection and reduce fatality need to be taken as per the ongoing strategy of Fest-Track-Treat-Vaccinate-Covid Appropriate Behaviour to keep the situation under control,” the letter added.