Bhubaneswar: Odisha saw a sharp jump in new COVID-19 cases on Friday with 416 people testing positive for the virus in the last 24 hours.
This is the highest number of cases reported in the day since December 2, 2020.
The state has been reporting over 200 fresh infections for the past one week and breached the 300-mark on Thursday.
Nuapada topped Friday’s infection tally with 86 cases. The district had been witnessing a surge in cases since March 25 when 29 villagers tested positive for the virus. The spurt was attributed to its close proximity to Chhattisgarh, which reported 1910 positive cases and 20 deaths the same day.
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On Thursday, Chhattisgarh saw the highest single-day spike of 4,617 coronavirus cases since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.
“Coronavirus cases increasing in districts bordering Chhattisgarh. We are keeping a close watch on the situation in Nuapada and Kalahandi districts. People coming from Chhattisgarh are being asked to undergo tests,” said Minister of State (Home) Dibya Shankar Mishra.
DAILY COVID-19 CASELOAD
Nuapada: 86 (Friday), 40 (Thursday), 57 (Wednesday)
Kalahandi: 36 (Friday), 43 (Thursday), 31 (Wednesday)
Sundargarh: 62 (Friday), 31 (Thursday), 38 (Wednesday)
Bargarh: 32 (Friday), 34 (Thursday), 18 (Wednesday)
According to health officials, cases are on the rise in Nuapada, Bargarh, Sundargarh and Kalahandi districts due to the interstate movement of people to Chhattisgarh.
Meanwhile, the districts have been directed to keep hospital beds with oxygen supply ready to meet any eventualities.
“The SCB MCH has been asked for the readiness of 250 beds. The bed strength in Bhubaneswar will be increased as per requirement,” Additional Chief Secretary (Health) PK Mohapatra was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
Odisha has 2,845 beds in government facilities and 95 in private hospitals besides, 174 and 115 ICU beds and 85 and 135 ventilators respectively, the report added.
