Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday advised people to remain very careful and take all precautions against a possible second phase of Covid infection to begin from the second week of December.
He stressed on strict implementation of norms such as use of masks, hand washing and social distancing by one and all. He said lockdown can be avoided if the norms are followed strictly.
He thanked people for following Covid norms during the last Durga Puja. He also advised people to follow the norms in that spirit during Diwali. Patnaik asked all observers to visit the allotted districts to ensure strict implementation of Covid norms.
He asked concerned authorities to continue project under the MGNREGA, Mission Shakti and Urban Wage Employment programmes so that poor people would keep earning living. He also asked officers to see that banks provide loans to farmers and MSME entrepreneurs at right times.
Health and Family Welfare ACS PK Mohapatra said Odisha’s test rate is 1.02 lakh per 10 lakh people against 83,000 at the national level.
The State’s 0.46% Covid death rate is far below the national average.
For undertaking Covid vaccination in coming days, as many as 3,752 Government and private organisains and over three lakh employees would be engaged, said Mohapatra, adding that serological surveys would be conducted in Puri, Sambalpur and Baleswar cities soon.