No Need To Panic About Mutated COVID-19 Strain: Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday said there is no need to panic about the mutated COVID-19 strain.

Allaying the apprehension of the people, Director, Public Health Niranjan Mishra said the symptoms and treatment of mutated COVID-19 strain are similar to those of the COVID-19.

“Till now, there has not been any increase in the number of patients due to the mutated COVID-19 strain,” he added.

Stating that the government is prepared to deal with the mutated strain, Mishra said while there is no international flight from the United Kingdom to India, the contact tracing of those who arrived in Odisha from the UK since September is underway.

Referring to the non-availability of the UK returnees, deputy commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Shuvendu Sahu said as some returnees have the overseas phone number, it is not possible to contact them.

He said the BMC has sent the rapid response teams (RRTs) to the houses of those returnees who have undergone the RTPCR test in some private hospitals. Besides, the test has been conducted on those who have been traced, he added.

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