Odisha Govt To Decide On COVID Unlock Process After Raja Festival

Bhubaneswar: With a gradual fall in daily cases and the test positivity rate (TPR), the Odisha government will take a decision on lifting the COVID-19 lockdown after the Raja festival.

The Director of Public Health, Niranjan Mishra, informed this on Friday.

“The state government will have a thorough review of the situation and take a call accordingly.  However, the unlock process will begin in the districts where the TPR has remained at 5 per cent or below,” he added.

Mishra stated that the pandemic situation has improved in the state. He said active surveillance and testing have been intensified in the areas with higher TPR while those testeing positive for the virus are being advised to remain in home isolation.

Earlier on Friday, the Director Medical Education and Training (DMET), CBK Mohanty, told the media that while daily cases have seen a declining trend in Odisha, the fatality rate in the state will also come down in the coming days.

Mohanty, however, cautioned people to strictly adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour. “People should not be complacent over the declining trend in the COVID-19 situation as they will invite more trouble if they ignore the guidelines,” he added.

Asked if the state government will begin the unlock process, the DMET said that the process will start only after the improvement in the pandemic situation.