Unlock Or Not: Decision To be Taken At Appropriate Time, Says Odisha DMET

Bhubaneswar: Will the lockdown be lifted from August 1? Well, several parameters would be taken into consideration before deciding to unlock Odisha.

Speaking to the media, Director of Odisha Directorate of Medical Education & Training (DMET), CBK Mohanty, on Tuesday said the state’s focus is on reducing COVID-19 cases in the districts which are witnessing no let-up in the infection count.

Several districts, including the capital city of Bhubaneswar is witnessing a high rate of infection. Khurda district reported the highest 532 fresh infections, followed by Cuttack (160) and Puri (96). The Test Positivity Rate (TPR) for the day stood at 2.59 per cent.

The DMET said, floating population is the major reason behind the rising cases in Bhubaneswar. To check COVID cases from rising in the event of a possible third wave, the government has stepped up surveillance measures.

Unlocking a state after several months of lockdown and shutdown is likely to have negative implications. The DMET said before going for unlock, several factors like local contact cases, COVID trajectory in the state besides other parameters will be taken into consideration before taking the final decision.

“There will be a complete unlock only if the situation permits,” said Mohanty and cited examples of other states and countries where restrictions were relaxed or lifted at a go and an upward surge in COVID cases was observed. Lessons from other places have to be learnt before taking the big leap, he added.

About the reopening of religious institutions in the districts in green zone, the DMET said all decisions will be taken at the appropriate time by the state government.