Double The Number Of COVID-19 Tests, Odisha Govt Tells Puri District Admin

Bhubaneswar: Expressing concerns over the alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Puri district, the Odisha government has directed the district administration to double the number of the tests to identify more patients.

Reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the district via a video conferencing on Monday, Development Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mahapatra directed the administration to double the number of tests. The current daily average of COVID-19 tests is 2000.

Mahapatra said although the recovery rate in Puri district stands at 80 per cent, the district administration and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) have to step up necessary measures for more ICU beds for the treatment of critical patients.

Stating that a number of sevayats of the Jagannath temple have tested positive for the virus, Mahapatra directed the district administration to undertake health screening of the servitors and other employees of Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) before their entry into the shrine.

He also asked the district administration to intensify awareness drive and undertake enforcement against violation of the COVID norms especially in hotels, restaurants, sea beach, health institutions and crowded places.

Among others, Additional Chief Secretary, Health Pradipta Mohapatra, Chief Administrator of SJTA Krishan Kumar and district collector Balwant Singh participated in the meeting.

It may be recalled that the total number of COVID-19 cases was 8387 in Puri district till September 21. In the last seven days, the number of positive cases in the district has gone up to 1790 with a daily average of 255 cases. The district had reported the highest single-day spike of 387 cases on September 9.

Among the total number of positive cases, the Puri Municipality alone accounts for 33 per cent (2852).