Bhubaneswar: In the wake increasing Covid-19 caseload in Khordha and Cuttack, which appears to be the new hotbed of the Coronavirus, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday asked officials concerned to strengthening the COVID-19 strategy focusing the two districts as the overall situation in the State is better than the national average.
Reviewing the Covid situation in the State, the Chief Minister said that over 2 million Coronavirus tests have been conducted so far in the State which stands at 42,404 per million people, which is much higher than the national average.
The recovery rate is also 76.78 percent and the death rate is 0.46 percent, he added.
The monsoon rains , flood and opening up transports have poised big challenges in the management of COVID-19 in the State, therefore the COVID-19 strategies have to be implemented keeping these challenges in mind, said Patnaik.
He directed the observers to visit the flood-affected areas at the earliest and provide immediate relief package to the eligible beneficiaries.
As the common diseases like colds and coughs can easily infect people during the monsoon season, the Chief Minister has asked all to keep a vigil eye on the people having such symptoms. He has advised to alert all public and private fever clinics.
He further directed the departments of Health & Family Welfare and Information & Public Relations to work together and launch an awareness campaign on various COVID protocols.
The Chief Minister also suggested setting up an ICU bed at a hospital in the district for critically ill patients.