Bhubaneswar: This is nothing short of a miracle. Two years into the pandemic and a village in Odisha’s Ganjam district has not reported a single COVID-19 positive case. Karanjara village in Danapur panchayat of Khalikote block has 261 households and a population of approximately 1,234 people. It must have been unbelievable for the authorities for the administration conducted a random COVID test on 32 villagers random, all of whom tested negative.
Although the full credit for such a feat can be given to the villagers for their self-discipline, much of the credit can also be given to Asha and Anganwadi healthcare workers who conduct door-to-door surveys in the village on a regular basis to assess the health of the elderly, those with mild symptoms, and those at high risk.
The villagers follow the safety protocol taught by the healthcare workers to the ‘T’. This includes wearing masks and social distancing. They don’t step out of the house unless it is absolutely necesary. What is more, the villagers have not held any feasts or receptions since last year and the village youth regularly conduct cleanliness drives.
They have made sacrifices too. Village youth who work in other states have not returned since last year. Those who did were self-quarantined for 14 days in government healthcare centres before entering the village.
Besides this, some villages in Nayagarh, Ganjam and Keonjhar districts have also keep the deadly virus at bay. The residents of six villages — Godasahi, Gachhapatar, Kusupalla, Girinda, Kendua and Kantasiri in Patia Gram Panchayat under Ranpur block in Nayagarh district have remained untouched by Coronavirus so far.
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