BHUBANESWAR: The state’s daily Covid count is on the decline but its slow pace raises a question mark as to whether it can meet the government’s projection of 1160 cases daily by July 15. With 2602 fresh cases, the test positivity report (TPR) dipped to 3.49% as testing was increased to 74,000 on Wednesday. However, the government on Wednesday confirmed 59 Covid deaths, a new high, as toll increased to 4,358.
Reiterating that the Covid death figures that are being released are not current ones, additional chief secretary (health) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, said, “We are getting the Covid deaths audited by a committee. Some deaths happening now will also be shown in due course. Now, only 10% hospital beds in Covid hospitals are occupied.”
More than a week back the government had projected that the state would have 12,449 active cases by July 15 with daily count of around 1160. But, given the pace of decline, experts say it would difficult to bring down the cases to such a level in the next one week.
“The daily average fall is marginal. With 3,222 cases on July 1 and 2,917 the next day, we can see that the cases are falling very slowly. Comparing July 1 count with Wednesday’s 2,602 cases, we don’t expect much in the next seven days,” said Dr Manoj Sahu, senior gastroenterologist and in-charge of Covid management at Sum Hospital, who said people need to cooperate with government enforcement agencies and adhere to Covid appropriate behaviour to bring the cases further down.
On July 3, IIT Kanpur had projected that Odisha would see daily cases falling to about 739 in two weeks’ time (by July 15). Citing World Health Organization (WHO) report the IIT Kanpur study had stated that consistent test positivity rate of less than 5% for at least two weeks can be interpreted as having the Covid situation under control. Khurda district again reported 500 plus cases (529) bringing to focus people’s reckless behaviour in the capital, which reports bulk of cases.
Meanwhile, Mohapatra allayed fear of a third wave hitting the state in August or September.
“According to our scientific calculation, the possible third wave, if any, could come in October and November. We are fully prepared as the targeted age group is 0-18 years. Hospital infrastructure for paediatric care is ready. Around 4,000 doctors, staff nurses and paramedics are under training now to deal with the third wave,” Mohapatra said in a video message.
