Odisha Govt Asks 8 District Collectors To Devise New Strategy To Contain COVID-19

Bhubaneswar: With eight districts reporting more than 100 COVID-19 cases daily for a fortnight, the state government on Friday directed the collectors to identify the exact cause of the spike and devise an area specific strategy.

Issuing the direction to the district collectors and district COVID observers at a meeting through video conferencing, chief secretary Asit Tripathy said, “The rate and cause of the spread of COVID-19 differ from one area to the other. The nature of spread in rural area is different from the urban areas. The border areas with neighbouring states also have their own uniqueness.”

He directed that the COVID hospitals should be kept free for treating the patients requiring critical care. A robust home isolation mechanism and frequent follow up with the patients by health personnel should be taken up.

The chief secretary also told the collectors to contain the rise in cases in rural areas within a week.

Since COVID-19 positive patients with co-morbidity are more vulnerable, the districts must plan a strategy to admit them in hospitals at early stage, said Development Commissioner S C Mohapatra.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare PK Mohapatra said the treating physicians in the districts should be in active contact with the expert team comprising experienced medical professors for critical care advice to contain the death rate.

Additional Chief Secretary and Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena advised the collectors to encourage home isolation of asymptomatic or mild symptomatic positive cases instead of burdening the COVID care centres and hospitals.

The Collectors of affected districts – Rayagada, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Khurdha, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Koraput and Ganjam – spoke on the strategies followed by them to contain COVID-19.

Also Read: Bhubaneswar Reports Two More COVID-19 Deaths, Odisha Toll Rises To 390