BHUBANESWAR: Odisha on Friday confirmed 61 Covid deaths, the highest in a single day so far, apart from 2,806 new cases. The infections rose by around 250 from the day before. The state registered a 3.57% test positivity rate (TPR) as the number of samples tested went beyond 78,000.
The latest deaths took the state’s official toll to 4,476. With the death audit being expedited, the number of fatalities being put out daily is thus far more than the given day’s actual toll.
The state government started showing more than 50 deaths a day since Monday. It has ramped up testing, as a result of which the daily cases have been hovering between 2,500-3,000, with the TPR remaining below four per cent.
Experts said while once worst-affected West Bengal was blamed for the surge in Odisha, the former has managed to bring its active cases down to 16,143 as on Thursday. It reported 995 cases, which is far less in proportion to its population, on the day.
On the other hand, Odisha is still left with 27,429 active cases. West Bengal’s neighouring district in the state, Balasore, reported 153 new cases on Friday. While Bengal has a very low daily infection count, Balasore has been seeing a surge, baffling health experts.
Khurda (590), Cuttack (441), Balasore (153) and Jajpur (252) together accounted for more than 50% of the state’s Friday caseload. The once hotspot Ganjam and Gajapati reported 19 and six new cases, respectively. Boudh, Deogarh, Nuapada and Gajapati districts each reported cases in single digits. Cuttack and Jajpur (the former’s neighbour) recorded a TPR of more than seven per cent.
“The situation is getting worse. But we will have to wait for one more week to see the direction of the infection. In any case, the enforcement agencies and people should be extremely careful as the costal pockets, largely Bhubaneswar, are extremely vulnerable,” Ajay Parida, director, Institute of Life Sciences, said.
