This story is from July 31, 2020

Staff crunch hits Rayagada after 108 warriors test +ve

Staff crunch hits Rayagada after 108 warriors test +ve
Representative image
KORAPUT: Of the 693 people afflicted with Covid in Rayagada district, 108 are Covid warriors. Most of them are health and police personnel, leaving the district with a shortage of manpower in its fight against the disease.
“The Covid warriors have been diligently discharging their duty for the past few months by adhering to the precautions. In spite of this, many of them have tested positive for the coronavirus,” said collector (Rayagada) Pramod Kumar Behera.
He added that although the district was facing a shortage of officials, especially health staff, it was taking steps to use the available manpower judiciously to contain Covid-19.
“The spirit of our men is high and our fight against the disease has been intensified. Out of the 108 infected Covid warriors, at least 31 have recovered. Most of them have rejoined duty,” the collector said. “Instructions have been issued to our frontline Covid warriors to take extra precautions while dealing with patients,” he added.
On Thursday, the district recorded 45 Covid cases, includes among 16 frontline staff. Rayagada, which had only 175 cases till July 20, added 518 cases from then to July 30. Most of the cases were reported from Rayagada and Gunupur municipalities.
The administration said the rising number of cases was due to more testing and intensive contact tracing. “It is a matter of concern that the majority of our Covid-19 cases are from the two urban areas of the district. While Rayagada town has 123 active cases, Gunupur has 85 active cases as on Thursday,” the collector said. “We appeal to all to strictly follow precautions against the disease while stepping out from their homes,” he added.

While the district headquarters hospital in Rayagada was closed for 48 hours in two phases after a health staffer and a doctor were tested positive recently, the Rayagada town police station was closed for 48 hours as 12 policemen tested positive for Covid 19 on July 27.
Police said over 30 of their staff, including an inspector-rank officer, have been tested positive for the disease and many of their staff are in home quarantine. Rayagada SP Saravana Vivek M said a 50-bed Covid care centre has been set up in the district.
“Many young police personnel are down with the disease but still our men are discharging their duties with utmost sincerity. Adequate steps have been taken to ensure that Covid-19 duties are not hampered,” said SDPO (Rayagada) Tapan Rath.
According to the officer, strict enforcement of Covid guidelines is being done in the district.
Meanwhile, an expert expressed apprehension that if the present trend of Covid positive cases continues for the next few days in the district then more Covid warriors could get infected and the administration may face serious challenge in its fight against the disease.
Rayagada, which had only 175 positive cases till July 20, added 518 cases in next 10 days.
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