New Omicron Sub-Variant Found In Odisha; Daily COVID Caseload Breaches 500-Mark Again, One More Death

Bhubaneswar: After two days of falling trend, Odisha on Wednesday reported 542 fresh COVID infections, the highest single-day spike since mid-August last year, and one more death due to the virus.

The number of tests being conducted in the state also crossed 7,000. With 7,571 samples being tested in the last 24 hours, the test positivity rate stood at 7.1%. Odisha now has 3,270 active cases with 357 more recoveries, according to data shared by the state health department.

Odisha had logged 393 and 392 new cases on Tuesday and Monday respectively.

While the current surge is being driven by Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16, a new sub-lineage XXB.2.3, which carries additional mutations, has been detected in the state. Among the 77 samples sequenced at Institute of Life Sciences and Regional Medical Research Centre, one case of the latest sub-variant XBB.2.3 and two cases of additional mutation XBB.2.3.2 have been found, the TNIE reported.

The state has recorded close to 3,000 new cases in the last one week while four people have so far died of the infection this year. The weekly TPR, on the other hand, had shot above 45% in Sambalpur between April 16 and April 22. The western district has the highest TPR of 48%, followed by 25 per cent in Subarnapur, 21% in Sundargarh, 14.1% in Kalahandi and 13.94% in Nuapada.

Amid the rising cases, the state government has made wearing face masks mandatory at all health facilities. It is applicable for all healthcare providers during duty hours, all officials and others present in the meetings, during congregation of people particularly in close rooms and persons providing clinical/laboratory and other support services in the hospital setting. Mask is also compulsory for people visiting areas having possibility of high transmission and the persons with influenza like illness.