This story is from December 5, 2021

Centre expresses concern over rising Covid cases in 6 Odisha dists

Amid the threat posed by Omicron, the Union health ministry on Saturday flagged rising Covid infections in six districts of Odisha as well as the prevalent high caseload in Khurda even as daily testing is on the decline.
Centre expresses concern over rising Covid cases in 6 Odisha dists
Picture used for representational purpose only
BHUBANESWAR: Amid the threat posed by Omicron, the Union health ministry on Saturday flagged rising Covid infections in six districts of Odisha as well as the prevalent high caseload in Khurda even as daily testing is on the decline.
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to his Odisha counterpart R K Sharma, pointing out that the state reported 7,445 Covid cases in 30 days ending December 4, contributing about 2.5% to India's new cases during the period.

"It is important to note that Khurda district is reporting a high quantum of weekly cases with 900 fresh infections reported in the week ending December 3," Bhushan wrote.
He pointed out that Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Keonjhar, Angul and Balangir reported an increase in infections in the week of November 27 to December 3 compared to the previous week.
Dhenkanal reported 69 cases between November 27 and December 3, a jump of 666.7% compared to the week before.
This was fuelled by one college in Dhenkanal district reporting 57 infections in the past one week. The Union health secretary also pointed out that Odisha exhibited a 3.1% decline in weekly tests. It tested 4,01,164 samples in between November 20 and 26 which fell to 3,88,788 the following week. The share of RT-PCR tests also fell by 36%.
This was fuelled by one college in Dhenkanal district reporting 57 infections in the past one week. The Union health secretary also pointed out that Odisha exhibited a 3.1% decline in weekly tests. It tested 4,01,164 samples in between November 20 and 26 which fell to 3,88,788 the following week. The share of RT-PCR tests also fell by 36%.
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About the Author
Ashok Pradhan

Ashok Pradhan is currently chief of bureau The Times of India in Bhubaneswar. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal (1999-2000).

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