Odisha Channel Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday cautioned the people of the State about possible second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and urged them to follow the guidelines to prevent such a situation.
Reviewing the prevailing pandemic situation in the State at a high-level meeting here, Patnaik appealed to the people to strictly wear mask, maintain social distance and wash hands regularly to prevent a possible second wave of coronavirus infections.
Following COVID-19 guidelines strictly was the best way to avoid difficult situation like lockdown, Patnaik said.
Expressing satisfaction over the decline in the detection of new COVID-19 cases and high recovery of patients, Patnaik thanked the people for adhering to the COVID-19 restrictions during the recently concluded Durga Puja festival.
Citing the cases of Kerala and Delhi that had experienced a second wave of COVID-19, Patnaik urged the people to stay extra cautious during the forthcoming Deepavali celebrations.
The Chief Minister also directed the senior officials who have been made CPVID-19 observers of different districts to visit their respective districts to enforce the restrictions during Diwali festival.
Ahead of the Diwali festival, the State government has already announced a ban on sale and use of firecrackers from November 10 to 30.
Patnaik further directed the Health & Family Welfare Department to keep a close watch on the COVID-19 situation as many people were experiencing health complications after recovering from COVID-19.
Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy informed the meeting that as per the Chief Minister’s instructions as Task Force has been constituted to prepare standard protocol for post-COVID care.
State Health Secretary P.K. Mohapatra informed that after conducting a serological survey in Bhubaneswar city, the authorities had also completed a sero survey of the high-risk group.
While serological survey was going on in Cuttack city, similar survey would be conducted in Puri, Sambalpur and Balasore in the month of December, Mohapatra added.
