No Need To Panic, Govt Fully Prepared For BF.7 Variant, Says Odisha Health Director

Bhubaneswar: Even as the Odisha government on Friday issued a fresh COVID-19 advisory amid Omicron sub-variant BF.7 scare, Health Director Bijay Mohapatra on Saturday said there was no need for panic.

Speaking to the media, Mohapatra said COVID BF.7 variant was identified in the state 2 years back. But there has been no remarkable rise in COVID positive rate for more than 3 months nor the number of patients affected by the virus has gone up in the hospitals.

“Since our state has been affected by all 4 waves of COVID, the people’s immunity capacity has been strengthened during the period. Hence, we have developed resistance to fight the new variant,” he said.

Since BF.7 variant has spread alarmingly in some countries, particularly China, people feel alarmed. But the situation is under control in the state. “Though the cases of the new variant are rising in other countries, there is no need to panic. I appeal to everybody including the media not to make any statements which may lead to panic situation,” he said.

He further said though BF.7 has a stronger potentiality to spread than other COVID variants, its severity and fatality rate is not alarming. “The government is fully prepared to face any untoward situation as it effectively faced all the previous waves of the pandemic. Though the number of COVID patients is not high at present, the hospitals have enough beds to accommodate the patients in case of surge in infection. We also have sufficient stock of medicines,” he added.