As a precautionary measure, the authorities have ordered for Covid-19 vaccination on war footing in Puri ahead of the Rath Yatra scheduled on July 1.
“In view of possible congregation of devotees in large numbers for the Rath Yatra, the Health Department has decided to scale up the vaccination drive against Covid-19 in Puri,” informed Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra on Wednesday.
The authorities directed the Puri district administration to administer vaccines in a special camp to those who have not been vaccinated with the second dose or precaution dose.
“As stated by the WHO, Covid-19 infection is there and it will remain present. The sporadic outbreak will also occur time and again. However, the number of hospitalisations due to the infection is very less than the active cases in Odisha. As we have successfully conducted a massive vaccination drive, the intensity of the infection has declined significantly,” Mishra said.
“Since the diseases like malaria, diarrhoea and dengue usually rise during monsoon as Covid cases are on rise in the country, we will hold door-to-door surveillance to identify patients afflicted with Covid, malaria, dengue and TB during the season,” he added.