COVID-19: Odisha CM Directs To Increase ICU Beds & Ambulances In Khurda, Cuttack

Bhubaneswar: In view of rising COVID-19 cases in Khurda and Cuttack districts, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday directed to increase the number of ICU beds in COVID hospitals and deploy more ambulances in the two districts.

Reviewing the COVID-19 management through video-conference, the chief minister instructed to strengthen the health infrastructure, promote awareness and enforce the guidelines strictly in the two districts to check the rising positive cases.

Congratulating the doctors and health workers for recovery of over one lakh COVID-19 patients in the state, Naveen hoped that the situation will improve next week.

Expressing his concern over violation of COVID-19 guidelines like wearing masks and maintaining social distance at public places, particularly small shops and roadside vendors, he directed police, health department and municipality to make a coordinated enforcement of the rules. “The spread of the disease due to negligence of some people cannot be tolerated,” he said.

The chief minister further said the district collectors can take the decision to close down TMC, COVID Care Centre and COVID are Home in their respective districts considering the situation. He directed to reserve more beds for COVID-19 patients in private hospitals, improve the services and track the treatment of patients in home isolation.

Additional chief secretary, Health department Pradipta Mohapatra said the recovery rate in the state at present is 77.8% which is slightly higher than the national average. Similarly, the state’s death rate of 0.43% is one of the lowest in the country, he added.

Senior officers of different departments were present at the review meeting.