The Odisha government has asked for full cooperation from the people to conduct extensive and thorough coronavirus testing aimed at detecting hidden cases, as the next 8 to 10 days are very crucial for flattening the COVID-19 curve in the state. The request was made by the Development Commissioner S C Mohapatra who was briefing the media on the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
This mass testing during the second phase of the lockdown will show the actual position of the state during this pandemic. “Though the majority of the samples tested so far are negative in the state, we should not be happy thinking that Corona is defeated. We will be confident only after conducting tests on a large-scale. However, the rate of corona positivity in Odisha remains low in comparison to the global and national average”, Mohapatra said.
The series of tests will cover everyone, starting from the health workers to the vegetable vendors and people working in small eateries. Mohapatra asked everybody’s cooperation with the administration by staying indoors. He also mentioned the substantial increase in the number of tests conducted per day. The state has increased its performance from 300 tests per day to 1,200-1,300 tests per day.
The Director of Public Health, Ajit Kumar Mohanty informed that one in every 10,000 in each district will be tested. The objective is to trace the patients in these districts if any.
“We hope to implement a pool test for COVID-19 after getting a nod from the ICMR. This will expand current screening capacity and detection of the virus in the community”, said the state Health Minister, N K Das.
Currently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has pointed out Odisha’s Khurda among the COVID-19 hotspot districts in the country with 46 confirmed cases.