BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is witnessing less number of daily infections in places with low vaccine coverage (both doses). The reason being, the people of those areas are apparently following COVID-appropriate behavior for fear of spreading the virus. In contrast, places like Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Puri and other coastal areas, which have much better vaccine coverage, are witnessing huge daily caseloads.
Experts said that once the vaccine is in place, 90% of people want to get rid of the mask and that results in more successful infections. This is evident from the fact that Khurda district, with 49% vaccine coverage, is adding up to a massive number of cases. opposite of this, Balangir, Bargarh, boudh, Deogarh And Kalahandi, where vaccination coverage is very low, is seeing single digits. except Kalahandi (10.82% coverage), Vaccine coverage is less than 10% in all other districts of Western Odisha. Balangir district is the lowest with 7.5%, but it has been reporting zero cases for several days.
Puri district is also included in the high infection zone. It has recorded 12.37% vaccination coverage while Cuttack has completed 13% vaccination. Balasore district, which is not showing any signs of rapid decline, has recorded 15% coverage, while Jagatsinghpur, a small coastal district seeing about 50 cases daily, has 13% percent vaccine coverage.
The state again saw a marginal increase in fresh infections, adding 1078 cases out of 68,724 samples, registering a positivity of 1.53%. Khurda district has reported the highest number of 372 new cases, including 147 infections in neighboring Cuttack. Bhubaneswar, part of Khurda district, recorded 261 cases against 223 cured, taking the active cases to 2,853.
The government’s technical advisor on COVID-19, Jayant Panda, said there are two factors at play behind high and low infections. “In areas with low vaccine coverage, the movement of people is kind of restricted to confined areas and they are a bit apprehensive as they are yet to be vaccinated. In places where vaccine coverage is better, people have a false self-assurance that they will not get infected. It’s putting them in trouble with a chain of live infections.” panda Said.
The government has confirmed 65 more Covid deaths, taking the toll to 6,630.
Experts said that once the vaccine is in place, 90% of people want to get rid of the mask and that results in more successful infections. This is evident from the fact that Khurda district, with 49% vaccine coverage, is adding up to a massive number of cases. opposite of this, Balangir, Bargarh, boudh, Deogarh And Kalahandi, where vaccination coverage is very low, is seeing single digits. except Kalahandi (10.82% coverage), Vaccine coverage is less than 10% in all other districts of Western Odisha. Balangir district is the lowest with 7.5%, but it has been reporting zero cases for several days.
Puri district is also included in the high infection zone. It has recorded 12.37% vaccination coverage while Cuttack has completed 13% vaccination. Balasore district, which is not showing any signs of rapid decline, has recorded 15% coverage, while Jagatsinghpur, a small coastal district seeing about 50 cases daily, has 13% percent vaccine coverage.
The state again saw a marginal increase in fresh infections, adding 1078 cases out of 68,724 samples, registering a positivity of 1.53%. Khurda district has reported the highest number of 372 new cases, including 147 infections in neighboring Cuttack. Bhubaneswar, part of Khurda district, recorded 261 cases against 223 cured, taking the active cases to 2,853.
The government’s technical advisor on COVID-19, Jayant Panda, said there are two factors at play behind high and low infections. “In areas with low vaccine coverage, the movement of people is kind of restricted to confined areas and they are a bit apprehensive as they are yet to be vaccinated. In places where vaccine coverage is better, people have a false self-assurance that they will not get infected. It’s putting them in trouble with a chain of live infections.” panda Said.
The government has confirmed 65 more Covid deaths, taking the toll to 6,630.
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