Amidst a sudden spike in daily Covid-19 cases in the State, Director of Health Bijay Panigrahi on Thursday said Omicron has spread to almost all the districts and the transmission would further increase like other States in coming days.
The State Government is taking all precautionary measures keeping in view the possible further spike in the cases, he said.
“Surveillance and vaccination drives are underway in full swing. Though the demand for ICU beds is less now, arrangements are being made to increase the number of beds,” he informed.
He urged people not to take the situation casually and to strictly follow the Covid-19 norms like mask-wearing, frequent hand-sanitising and social distancing. He also advised them not to overcrowd public places.
“Senior citizens and health workers will be administered precaution doses from January 10. As per the Centre’s guidelines, the same vaccine, which they had received in past, will be administered to the beneficiaries as booster dose. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a testing kit to detect the Omicron variant of Covid-19. The Odisha Government has already begun the process to procure the kit,” he added.
