Covid cases have again started rising in some States, the Odisha Government has asked the district Collectors to keep a contingency action plan ready to deal with any upsurge in the cases in the State.
“The Covid-19 situation in Odisha is not in a worrying stage. However, we all knew that the virus has the tendency of rapid infection. So, we have asked the district officials to maintain surveillance activities to know whether there is any outbreak in any cluster or not,” said Director Public Health Niranjan Mishra on Wednesday.
“To prepare further strategy, we need to know if there is a surge in Covid cases in any cluster or pocket. Further, we need to collect evidence-based data on the outbreak of the virus,” he said.
In a letter to the Municipal Commissioners, Collectors and Chief District Medical & Public Health Officers, Dr Mishra has asked to maintain Covid surveillance and related activities. The Collectors were asked to keep a close vigil on people coming from high-burden countries and States.
He further instructed to ensure that home isolation protocol is followed scrupulously and due treatment provision is in place. He told the district official to ensure vaccination coverage to all beneficiaries as per the guidelines issued from time to time.
“There should be in-house strengthening of testing, surveillance and treatment mechanisms to face any upsurge of cases and to integrate it into a comprehensive healthcare system,” he added.
Wearing a face cover is compulsory in public places, in workplaces and during transport. Individuals must maintain an adequate distance in public places, workplaces and avoid overcrowding, the Director said in his letter.
The State on Wednesday logged eight new Covid cases, which took the active caseload to 110. With the confirmation of death of another patient, the toll increased to 9,124.