Odisha reports 1196 fresh Covid cases

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha on Thursday reported 1,196 fresh Covid cases, 74 more than Wednesday, taking the active case count to 7,093. Altogether 23,078 samples were tested in the past 24 hours, which kept the test positivity rate (TPR) at 5.18%.
Khurda district registered the highest number of 312 infections, followed by 174 cases in Sundargarh and 109 in Cuttack. Health experts said though the daily number of cases are rising at present, the situation is not yet alarming in the state.
“It is very difficult at present to ascertain where the current trend will lead to. In all the previous three phases, we saw various phases like a rising trend, a plateau and then a declining course. At the moment, we are at the rising trend phase,” said Dr Bijay Mohapatra, director health services.
Dr Mohapatra added that the TPR is not the only parameter to decide the severity of the wave, but hospitalisation rate and transmissibility are also important factors.
“Currently, the hospitalised rate in Odisha is 1.1%, which is very low. The state has been testing around 19,000-20,000 samples per day. Since the free immunisation drive started, the number of people being vaccinated per day has also gone up in the state,” he added.
The expert said people still should come forward for testing and vaccination.
Amid rise in Covid cases, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation started a free booster dose vaccination drive at shopping malls in the city on Thursday. The service will be available at Symphony Mall, DN Regalia Mall and Esplanade One mall.