Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is taking a slew of measures to tackle the fourth wave of Covid-19 in the State, informed Health & Family Welfare Minister Naba Kisore Das in the State Assembly today.
Replying to a question by BJD MLA Prafulla Samal, the Minister informed in a written reply that the government is extensively applying the five-pronged approach of “Testing-Tracking-Treatment-Vaccination and Covid appropriate behaviour”.
He said that screening of all ILI (Influenza Like Illness) and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) patients are being conducted regularly and samples drawn from all SARI patients are being sent for Covid testing.
Instructions have been issued for daily Covid testing of more than 15,000 samples and increase as per need, he added.
The Minister informed that the service tenure of human resources like Microbiologist, Laboratory Technician, Pharmacist and Data Entry Operator at the district level have been extended.
He stated that the health condition of patients under home isolation is being regularly monitored and wherever needed treatment is being provided through RRT (Rapid Response Team).
Since in the current wave the number of people requiring hospitalisation is negligible, therefore district authorities have been instructed to remain prepared for arranging hospital beds and other allied arrangements as per requirement, he added.
Das said that health workers and ASHA workers are doing a door-to-door survey for possible Covid infectees including malaria, dengue, diarrhoea, tuberculosis, leprosy, etc infectious diseases under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) in their respective areas, apart from creating public awareness.
In the event of a cluster outbreak or the possibility of community infection, arrangements have been made for WGS (whole genome sequencing) of all positive samples from that area, the Minister informed.
He said that Covid data is being analyzed regularly and required steps are being taken to prevent the loss of lives.
Sufficient stock of Covid testing kits, medicine and other allied items are being maintained, he added.
The Minister has further informed that as on 11th of July 26,71,939 beneficiaries in the 12 years above category have not taken their second dose of Covid vaccine in the State despite it being due.
He said that by the 11th of July, 6,87,76,026 doses of the Covid vaccine have been administered to persons in the 12 years and above category.
Out of these, 3,49,41,961 are first dose, 3,20,52,491 are second dose and 17,81,574 are precaution dose, he added.
He further said that as of now one person has died of Covid in the current wave.
