COVID-19 Second Wave: Sundargarh & Khurda Emerging Hotspots In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha saw the biggest spike of 1282 in daily COVID-19 caseload after a gap of almost five months on Friday.

Sundargarh district reported the highest of 224 new cases followed by Khurda at 192.

Also Read: Odisha Reports Biggest Spike In 5 Months & One More Death

These two districts have been leading the tally in COVID-19 cases for some weeks now.

On Thursday, Khurda had recorded the maximum of 144 cases, followed by Sundargarh (131). The eight districts, bordering Chhattisgarh, registered 361 cases contributing over 41 per cent of the daily caseload. The virus is also spreading fast in Puri, Cuttack, Ganjam, Balasore and Angul. At present, night curfew has been enforced in 10 districts of Odisha.

Sundargarh had the highest number of 731 active cases, followed by Khurda (730),  Kalahandi (398), Nuapada (286), Bargarh (274), Cuttack (268), Sambalpur (226), Jharsuguda (184) and Puri (182) till Thursday.

Bhubaneswar in Khurda district is also witnessing a spike in COVID-19 cases. The city, which saw one positive case on March 9, had been reporting over 100 cases for three consecutive days since Tuesday. It now has 669 active cases.

Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, Director Ajay Parida had told the media that a Chhattisgarh-like situation cannot be ruled out as the second strain of COVID-19 has led to a rise in the rate of infection in the state.

Also Read: COVID-19 Second Wave: Is Odisha Staring At Chhattisgarh-Like Situation?

The coronavirus’ second wave-led local restrictions have also prompted migrant workers to return to their native places as they fear another nationwide lockdown.

Ganjam district had witnessed a surge in cases and turned into a hotspot last year after the Centre allowed for inter-state movement and migrants started returning to the district.