District Collector Saroj Mishra has cautioned the residents of the district against any lapses in following the Covid norms.
He informed that the average death per day in last 38 days sinceoutbreak of the second surge of Covid-19 comes to 1.6. According toMishra, the Covid positivity rate is 16.09, which is almost near thefigure of 17.30 of the first surge during August, 2020. This is due tonew strain from AP and Telengana and late arrival of positive patientsto the Covid Care Centre after being very critically ill. During thefirst surge, total 45 persons had died of corona in the district. He advised the Rayagada denizens to strictly adhere to Covid preventive norms like wearing double masks, avoiding gatherings, washing hands regularly and maintaining physical distance as prescribed by the State Government. Meanwhile, a special drive to vaccinate the working journalists of the district has been launched following the State Government declaring them as Covid Warriors.
“We have started a campaign through a WhatsApp social media group called “Media Cares” to strengthen peer communication and arrange possible facilities of better healthcare of journalists and their family members,” said Ranjan Rath, leading campaign. Police under leadership of SP Vivekananda Sharma are enforcing Covid laws in entire district and strictly monitored the situation. ADM Sarat Panda, Gunupur Sub-Collector J Sonal, Rayagada Sub-Collector Pratap Pradhan and tehsildar Umashankar Behera are working tirelessly to contain the dreaded pandemic in district.
They along with Collector Mishra are continuously monitoring the border entry points to check influx of migrants from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. In all eleven blocks and Rayagada municipality, 35 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been formed to respond to hospitalised patients with early signs of deterioration. With motivational strategies of the administration, 92% of the patients are being treated under home isolation. CDM and PHO Artabandhu Nayak informed that there are 44 ambulances with oxygen facility for emergency use of patients. 72 jumbo and 148 B-type oxygen cylinders and 150 oxygen concentrators are being used in hospitals, CCCs, CTMCs and TMCs. According to PD-DRDA-cum-Nodal Officer, Covid-19, Maheswar Nayak the district is well-prepared and equipped to deal withrecent surge.