Bhubaneswar: A total of 17 new Covid-19 positive cases were detected in Odisha in the past 24 hours, barely a week after the state reported such cases in double digits for two days in a row.
However, the state government sought to reassure the people that there is no reason to panic saying that the spike in Covid-19 cases was reported due to increase in testing.
The new Covid-19 cases were detected after a total of 5,647 samples were tested in laboratories during the last 24 hours, Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra said.
Stating that the total Covid-19 positivity tally in the state now stood at 73, he said only one patient is now undergoing treatment at a hospital.
While the detectoin of 17 fresh cases was the highest in the last 134 days, there is no evidence of any increase in hospitalisation and mortality in the state, officials said.
It may be noted that Odisha reported Covid-19 cases in double digits on March 16 and 17 for the first time after a gap of around four months. For the two consecutive day, the state had reported 11 new cases each.
However, health officials are of the view that there is nothing to worry about as the new Covid-19 cases are being detected after testing of more samples.
The state government has been creating awareness among people with cold and cough and symptoms of flu to undergo Covid-19 test following rise in H3N2 influenza cases in some parts of the country including Odisha.
Following the advice of the state government, many people with cough and cold are now going for Covid-19 testing. As a result, the new cases are being detected, they said.
As a precautionary measure against H3N2, the state government has advised people to follow respiratory hygiene and stay in isolation in case of symptoms of cold and cough.
Urging elderly and comorbid people to continue maintaining COVID-appropriate behaviour and wear masks in crowded places, the officials said though the pandemic is still not over, there is no need to panic.
