Is Odisha Staring At ‘Dramatic’ COVID-19 Resurgence?

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has seen a consistent drop in new COVID-19 infections after a record peak in the middle of September last year. It has been reporting 50-100 daily caseload for the past month and there have been days of no fatality due to the disease.

The rise in cases in Maharashtra and Kerela, however, has created apprehensions of a ‘dramatic’ resurgence and more so with people throwing all caution to the wind, violating COVID-19 norms with impunity amid slack enforcement. The crowed transport and markets with people giving two hoots to masks and social distancing make for a scarier picture of what lies ahead of us.

Health experts have sounded a warning about the situation spiralling out of control if the violations continue.

Former member of ICMR and noted microbiologist Dr Tribuban Mohan Mohapatra told the New Indian Express that people initially followed the guidelines due to fear of the disease and stricter enforcement. With cases dropping almost every day, both people and the enforcement authorities have now become more relaxed. This, however, is not a good sign and things might get out of hand if action is not taken immediately, he added.

AIIMS-Director Gitanjali Batmanabane warned people against taking things lightly. “The way people are behaving is completely unacceptable,” she was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

The people of Odisha can take a leaf out of the Bengaluru incident where 103 residents of a multi-storeyed building tested positive for COVID-19 after some of them attended a party on February 6.

Stay Safe Odisha!