Covid-19: Odisha's positivity rate drops to 3%, 58 more die

BHUBANESWAR: Altogether 2,334 new infections from among the 75,653 swab samples sent for testing pulled down the state’s positivity rate or TPR to three per cent on Saturday. The government confirmed 58 more deaths taking the overall Covid toll to 4,534.
However, experts cautioned against rejoicing over the low TPR saying that the infection is spreading rapidly in the coastal districts. This goes to show that even four months after the second wave of Covid-19 hit home, people are not adhering to the precautionary measures to prevent its further spread. The alarmingly high prevalence of Covid in the coastal districts at a time when the western and southern parts arc seeing a steady decline in cases has been a matter of concern for the government agencies, doctors and healthcare experts for some time now.
As many as six districts reported cases in single digits. Khurda (380) and Cuttack (371) continue to report high number of cases.
The pilgrim town of Puri has also been reporting more than 100 cases a day like Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore and Jajpur. Cuttack, Nayagarh, Kendrapada and Jajpur each saw a positivity of more than five per cent.
Out of Khurda’s 380 fresh cases, Bhubaneswar alone reported 314 against 330 new recoveries, resulting in a marginal reduction in active cases. It remains above 1,100. The city’s Covid fatalities breached the 500-mark on Saturday, with total deaths so far being 503. Bhubaneswar is short of around 6,000 cases to reach the one-lakh mark in terms of the cumulative Covid count.
Ajay Parida, director, Institute of Life Sciences, said, “With the Covid graph almost being static in Bhubaneswar and some coastal districts, it should serve as a wake-up call for everybody as Kerala and Maharashtra are also witnessing a resurgence. People need to be doubly careful and cooperate with the enforcement agencies. The government authorities may also re-impose certain restrictions to bring down the cases. We should not be complacent.”