BHUBANESWAR: The state on Sunday confirmed 65 Covid deaths, the highest so far, taking the toll to 4,599 even as it reported 2,282 new cases from 78,466 samples tested, a positivity rate of 2.90%.
With the government expediting death audit, the number of fatalities being put out daily is seeing an incremental rise and may not be the actual deaths in the past 24 hours.
Khurda reported 592 fresh cases, highest among the 30 districts, even as Cuttack reported 289 positive cases on Sunday. However, Khurda’s test positivity rate (TPR) has fallen below 5% while it is over 5% in Nayagarh and Mayurbhanj districts.
Jagatsinghpur (73) and Kendrapada (62) have reported cases in double digits while Jajpur (111) and Mayurbhanj (141) are showing a spurt apart from Puri, which has been constantly witnessing more than hundred cases. On Sunday, it reported 127 new cases.
The capital city reported 316 new infections against 339 recoveries. Active cases still remain a little over 1100 with the city reporting eight more Covid deaths, taking the toll to 511. The city’s cumulative Covid count has now gone up to 93,707.
Ajay Parida, director, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), said the infection in the state capital is widespread as cases are being reported from every corner.
“Compliance of Covid-appropriate behaviour is extremely important and people should realise this. The city authorities also need to ensure that people do not crowd unnecessarily after curfew hours. It is being seen that people are gathering during the prohibited hours as well. Also, people are no more serious about wearing mask, resulting in one-to-one spread of virus,” Parida observed.
