Odisha Govt Reviews Omicron Preparedness; Cautions: Those With No Travel History Also Contracting Strain

Bhubaneswar: The state Health Department on Monday reviewed preparedness to deal with Omicron cases, which are rising in Odisha.

The meeting, chaired by Health Minister Naba Das, comes a day after the state reported 23 fresh cases of Omicron, taking to 37 the number of cases in Odisha of the new COVID variant, fast-spreading but with mild symptoms requiring less hospitalisations.

In India, Omicron cases reached 1,700 on Monday. Delhi said 84 per cent of COVID cases in the nation’s capital had the Omicron strain.

In Odisha, COVID cases have zoomed for two straight days, with 424 cases each reported on both days, causing concern among health authorities.

Das on Monday said the state was fully prepared to deal with Omicron cases and assured there will be no oxygen shortage in hospitals to treat patients in case such a situation arises.

After the meeting, Das said there were 1,179 hospital beds for children and if required, it will be increased. Of these, 937 were general beds and 242 ICU beds, besides 110 ventilators.

He said directions had been issued to check if genome sequencing can be done at other places, he said. At present, samples are sent to the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) here for genome sequencing to check for the presence of Omicron strain.

State Health Services Director Bijay Mohapatra on Monday informed that of the 23 Omicron cases detected on Sunday, 19 were asymptomatic. The rest had mild symptoms.

“Of the 23 patients, 11 have definite travel history but rest 12 don’t have any travel history. Some are contracting the virus locally. In Keonjhar district, seven patients contracted it at a congregation. If we flout COVID norms and allow congregation, cases will go up,” he warned.