Bhubaneswar: Amid reports of five persons testing positive for Covid-19 in Odisha, State Public Health Director Dr. Nilakantha Mishra on Wednesday urged the public to remain calm, stating that there is no abnormal surge in cases and the situation is under control.
“We did not receive any report. However, once the cases were reported, we initiated testing and inquiries. So far, there is no unusual increase in Covid-19 cases. There is no reason to panic,” Dr. Mishra said while addressing the media.
He clarified that the Government of India has not issued any new guidelines and reassured that the detected variant, JN.1, is not a cause for alarm.
“This is a normal variant already present in India. The patient identified with JN.1 is in stable condition and expected to be discharged soon. The disease is not spreading rapidly and no alarming trends have been observed in the state,” he added.
Dr. Mishra appealed to the media not to exaggerate the situation, emphasizing that verified data should guide public communication.
“If any new cases are detected, we confirm them via RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) and conduct genome sequencing before making official announcements.”
He further noted that guidelines issued in 2022 remain in effect and new directives will be communicated as and when issued by the central government, WHO, or ICMR.
“People, especially those with weakened immune systems, should continue to follow preventive measures. At present, the health system is functioning well, and there is no need for panic,” Dr. Mishra concluded.
