Odisha sets "zero transmission" target against COVID-19
National Health Mission Director Shalini Pandit saidthis while briefing the media here.
"The challenge before us is to achieve zerotransmission of the corona disease. The state has reportedjust 1.08 per cent positive case against the national averageof around 5 per cent," Pandit said.
She said that of the total 5,537 samples tested sofar, the state reported only 60 positive cases keeping therate at 1.08 per cent.
Though some other states have less positive cases thanOdisha, the rate of positivity to COVID-19 in the state is oneof the lowest rates of the positive case as Odisha's rate is1.08 while it is 1 per cent in Jharkhand. The recovery rate inOdisha remains at 30 per cent while the death rate is two percent, the NHM Director claimed.
Pandit said that it was possible because of the utmostdiscipline maintained by the people of Odisha, who strictlyfollowed most of the norms like social distancing, handwashing and staying at home during the lock-down period.
Quoting an ICMR survey, Pandit said: "A COVID-19infected person can easily transmit the highly infectiousvirus to 406 people in 30 days without lockdown. However, ifan infected person remains in lockdown and obeys all norms,he/she will transmit the virus to only 2 persons.""Since there is a lockdown, we have to identify these 2persons who have been infected from a COVID-19 patient andmake the rate of transmission zero," Pandit said, addingpeople must obey the lockdown norms in letter and spirit andhelp the state to achieve "zero transmission."Referring to low corona test in the state, Pandit said: "Sofar we have tested the suspected cases and the persons showingsymptoms or the people who have come in contact with apositive case. Now, we will expand and test asymptomaticpersons also."
Rejecting the allegation that corona tests areconfined to Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other urban areas, Panditclaimed the tests are being done in all districts. "We haveconducted tests of 200 persons each in Malkangiri andKalahandi and 300 people in Bolangir to name a few," she said.
While sharing her experience in the containment zones,Pandit said: "We tested 300 people in a containment zone andfour positive cases who had no such flu symptoms. We will haveto completely stop transmission with the help of people aslockdown and the home stay has benefited the state and ensureda low rate of transmission in Odisha," she said.
On the present corona status of the state, Pandit saidof the 60 positive cases detected so far, 18 people havealready been cured and discharged from hospitals. Similarly,of the 41 active cases, only two patients require hospitalcare even as the state has so far arranged 3,620 beds in thededicated COVID Hospitals. As many as 113 persons are underhospital isolation at present.
Of the 60 positive cases, 20 are women, comprising33.3 per cent of the total number of patients detected in thestate so far.
"Of the two patients requiring hospital case, one hasalready tested negative to the COVID-19. But, we cannotdischarge him from the hospital because of his other healthproblems. Therefore, only one of the 41 active COVID cases,only one person needs hospital care," Pandit said.
"Like natural calamities and cyclones, Odisha willalso win over the COVID-19 by adopting the Zero Transmissiongoal," said a senior official in the health department here. AAM SKNRG RG