Odisha on alert as COVID-19 cases surge in Asia; Health Department closely monitoring

Bhubaneswar, May 17: Odisha remains vigilant as COVID-19 cases surge again across several Asian regions, including Hong Kong and Singapore, raising concerns about a possible new wave of infections.

The state health administration is actively monitoring the situation and has engaged in discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess risks and prepare effective responses, Public Health Director Dr. Nilakantha Mishra said on Saturday.

Dr. Mishra clarified that there is currently no evidence of a new COVID-19 variant. “The recent increase in cases is primarily linked to declining antibody levels in the population. Some deaths have been reported in affected regions, but no special alert has been issued in India so far,” he added. He also emphasized that Odisha has not reported any new COVID-19 cases for a significant period.

The state government is maintaining close communication with the Central government and will implement any necessary measures following their guidelines. Meanwhile, health authorities in Asia are urging increased vaccination efforts to counter the rise, which is believed to stem from waning immunity, especially among vulnerable groups like the elderly and immunocompromised.