Odisha CM To Review COVID Situation Today

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik would review the COVID situation in Odisha, which has been witnessing a surge in fresh cases, at 5.30 pm, official sources informed on on Thursday.

Chief Secretary, development commissioner and health secretary are likely to attend the meeting.

Odisha reported 804 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the active tally to 4262. Most of the new cases are being reported from Khurda and Cuttack, which has pushed the test positivity rate to over 4 per cent. While fresh infections are pouring in from more districts, hospitalisation is still very low in the state.

On Wednesday, the CM had urged people to remain alert and follow COVID-19 protocols as the state reported a 45 per cent-plus uptick in the daily caseload with 743 people testing positive for the virus. He also welcomed the Centre’s decision to provide free precaution doses for the 18-59 year age group and appealed to eligible beneficiaries to get vaccinated for a COVID-free Odisha.

The Health Department said that the next few weeks will be crucial and COVID graph in Odisha may plateau by the second week of August.

Notably, wearing masks have been made mandatory in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur municipal corporations.