Odisha CM To Chair Crucial Meeting Today Evening To Review COVID Situation

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is slated to chair a crucial meeting on Tuesday to review the COVID situation in the wake of detection of new China variant BF.7 in the state.

According to sources, the important meeting is expected to be held in the evening.

The meeting assumes significance as it comes in  the wake of COVID surge in many countries and detection of China variant BF.7 in Odisha.

The meeting will take stock of the preparedness to deal with any possible spread of the virus in the state apart from discussing the steps required deal with the situation.

It is likely to be attended by the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Chief Secretary, Health Secretary and other senior officials.

A comprehensive strategy is expected to be worked out at the meeting after assessing preparedness at the hospitals, availability of beds and ventilators and  oxygen stock position will be reviewed at the meeting.

The government has already issued fresh guidelines on preventive steps against the virus for awareness of the people. Health Secretary Shalini Pandit took stock of the situation at a meeting on December 23 and emphasised on increasing the testing for the virus.

It may be noted that the state government is also conducting a mock drill on preparedness for COVID in all its district hospitals.

The mock drill is being carried out in all district headquarters hospitals, Rourkela Government Hospital and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar to ascertain necessary infrastructure and logistics and response of the service staff.