Odisha Ready To Face Omicron, 3rd Wave Of COVID Likely: Health Director

Bhubaneswar: With the number of people affected by Omicron variant of COVID-19 nearing 100 in the country, the state government on Saturday said it is prepared to handle the situation in case of an outbreak.

Speaking to the media persons, here, director, Pubic Health, Niranjan Mishra said more than 1500 people have come from ‘at risk’ countries to the state. However, the state government is fully prepared to handle the COVID variant, he added.

“Preparations are going on to face the situation in case of spread of Omicron and regular reviews of infrastructure are being carried out,” Mishra said.

On reports of a person, who returned from abroad to Cuttack recently, being infected by Omicron, Mishra said it has not been confirmed and the district administration has been directed to look into the matter and file the report.

However, the director cautioned that the way the virus is spreading in UK, a third wave seems imminent in Odisha. But the state is capable of fighting it and has enhanced surveillance, he added.