Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Dr CBK Mohanty on Saturday said that the rate of covid-19 infection would slow down in the State in the second week of May. Speaking to mediapersons, the health official said that the situation in Odisha is better as compared to other States.
As per the trend, the number of cases would come down around second week of May. There is no report of the triple mutant variant of the virus in the State as yet. The new variant was first reported in Kolkata on October 25 last.
Regarding the availability of oxygen in the State, Dr Mohanty said, “We have so far supplied 250 metric tonnes of medical oxygen to other States. The State has a surplus amount of medical oxygen in stock and that is why we are supplying the same to the needy States.” “There is no shortage of beds in hospitals too. All district Collectors have been asked to further increase the numbers of beds to meet any possible eventuality in the coming days,” he informed.
Urging the Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms not to panic and not to rush to hospitals seeking admission, Dr Mohanty said that only critical patients would be admitted to ICUs for treatment.
Meanwhile, the Government-enforced weekend shutdown in all urban areas of the State began on Saturday to contain the spread of the virus.