Bhubaneswar: National Health Mission (NHM) Director Shalini Pandit on Monday said that Odisha has fared better than other states in its response to the COVID-19 challenge and is being seen as a model state.
Allaying fear among natives about rising coronavirus cases, she said that positivity rate per lakh population in the state is 9.3 per cent compared to Maharashtra (88 per cent), Delhi (205 per cent) and the national average of 25 per cent.
Similarly, the death rate is very low in Odish at 0.03 per cent compared to 6.6. per cent in Delhi and India’s average of 0.7 per cent.
Odisha has a recovery rate of 67 per cent against the national average of 57 per cent, she added.
Pandit attributed it to a change in testing strategy, wherein all symptomatic persons and close contacts of positive cases are being tested, and 4.5 crore corona warriors in the state, which includes sarpanchs and healthcare workers who are tirelessly working to contain the spread of the virus.
“There has been a rise in positive cases across India after easing of lockdown restrictions. Doctors say cases will continue to rise the next four to six weeks. Now, the onus is on people to abide by the COVID-19 guidelines to keep the virus at bay,” she added.
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