Bhubaneswar: As the annual Puri Ratha Jatra festival approaches, the Odisha government is taking precautions to ensure the safety of devotees amidst a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
A special advisory is being prepared for devotees, and health officials are urging people with COVID-like symptoms, the elderly, and those with comorbidities to avoid attending the festival, informed Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra.
The Health Department will emphasize strict adherence to facemasks and hand sanitization during the Ratha Yatra. Additionally, ICUs previously set up during the pandemic are being re-operationalized at Puri, and extra beds and medical staff are being arranged at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) to handle any potential surge.
The Health Department urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue practicing basic health protocols such as maintaining social distancing, avoiding crowded places, and ensuring proper hand hygiene. While there is no immediate cause for panic, the slight rise in cases serves as a reminder of the need for continued public cooperation to curb the spread of the virus.
Mishra has assured the public that the situation is under control, with detected cases being mild Omicron sub-variants. However, the Health Department is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of devotees and prevent any outbreak during the Ratha Yatra festival.
