COVID-19: Will Odisha Need Yet Another Lockdown?

Bhubaneswar: The second-phase lockdown clamped across Odisha to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 will end on June 1 but the measures taken to bring the rising cases under control seem to have fallen short. Bhubaneswar, in particular, has been reporting the highest number of COVID cases in the state.

With the situation still volatile, will the government take a call on third-phase lockdown?

The apprehensions, if state will go for a Phase-3 lockdown or not are likely to become clear at a press briefing by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra at 6.30 pm today.

Prior to the briefings by the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Health Pradipta Mohapatra will hold a press briefing at 4.30 pm.

Sources said Mohapatra will speak about the measures taken by the state government to bring down the positivity rate.

According to the Health Department, the test positivity rate (TPR) at present has remained above 10% in 25 districts of Odisha and less than 10% in the remaining five districts viz. Deogarh, Balangir, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Malkangiri.

However, there is a marked improvement in the TPR from the last week. While the state had more than 20% TPR earlier, it has now remained within 15%.

Well-known specialist of internal medicine Dr Niroj Mishra said out of more than 66,000 COVID tests done in the state in the last 24 hours, the TPR has come down to 14.4%.

“It’s true that there were fewer tests in the coastal districts in the last week due to Cyclone Yaas. Although it is expected that the number of positive cases in the state is most likely to go up, the gradual fall in the TPR is, of course, a welcome indication,” he pointed out.