Odisha reports 64 more COVID-19 deaths, 1,041 new cases

Odisha Tuesday logged 1,041 fresh cases of COVID-19, pushing the tally to 9,88,997, while the death toll mounted to 6,565 with 64 more fatalities, a health department official said.

The coastal state now has 10,988 active cases, and 9,71,391 patients have so far recovered from the disease, including 1,475 since Monday, he said.

Odisha’s case fatality rate stands at 0.66 per cent, which is “one of the lowest in the country”, the official said.

Khurda district, comprising state capital Bhubaneswar, reported the highest number of 383 new infections, followed by Cuttack (132). Two districts - Jharsuguda and Subarnapur - did not report any fresh case.

Of the single-day fatalities, Khurda reported 20 deaths, Sundargarh (8), Balasore (6) and Kandhamal (4), among other districts.

The Health and Family Welfare Department (H&FW) said the list of fresh fatalities also includes those who had died in the months of May and June due to COVID-19, as shown in an audit.

The state has thus far conducted over 1.66 crore sample tests, taking into account 56,859 clinical examinations on Monday. The cumulative positivity rate stands at 5.92 per cent, the official said.

Till Monday, Odisha inoculated 1,81,12,689 people, with 41,94,247 having received both doses of the vaccine, he added.

Meanwhile, Director of H&FW Bijay Panigrahi said the anticipated third wave of coronavirus could impact 15 per cent children in the state.

“Training of those to be involved in providing treatment to children likely to be infected in the next wave will begin online from today. They will be divided into six batches,” he said.

“We plan to vaccinate as many people as possible before the third wave strikes. The focus is on inoculating people in rural areas,” Panigrahi said.