Odisha: Bulk of 11,108 covid positive cases from coastal districts

BHUBANESWAR: Covid infection seems to be moving eastward with many coastal districts witnessing a spurt in cases even as the western districts are seeing a decline. On Saturday, the state reported 11,108 fresh cases with the eight coastal districts of Cuttack, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Nayagarh, Puri and Khurda together reporting more than 5,000 cases.
The coastal districts are witnessing a surge at a time Odisha’s coast is likely to be hit by a very severe cyclonic storm on May 26. The western Odisha districts of Nuapada, Kalahandi, Balangir, Sambalpur, Bargarh and Sundargarh were earlier adding huge cases. The 10 western districts, which are close to Chhattisgarh, have together reported 2,700 new cases.
Experts said falling cases in Chhattisgarh and early surge in infection in western districts are responsible for the graph gradually declining. “The western districts are going to see further decline in cases in a week’s time. While Balasore and Bhadrak are witnessing surge due to the proximity with West Bengal, where situation is still bad, Jajpur, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur are seeing a rise because of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack,” said Ajay Parida, director, Institute of Life Sciences.
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Sanjay Singh said cases in the capital in the past five days have on an average remained at around 1150 daily. “The highest was 1353 on May 16. Cases in the capital are stabilising. We find that many people are still not adhering to Covid norms. Strict action will be taken against them. Secondly, we have decided to provide vaccination facility to disabled persons by bringing them to the site and taking them back home after the shot,” said the commissioner.
Inspired By