Bhubaneswar, Aug 28: The next 15 days are most crucial for Odisha in its fight against the coronavirus, said Institute of Life Sciences director Dr. Ajay Parida today.

The Padma Shri Award winner biologist said, “Though the state is witnessing spurt in positive cases due to increase in number of tests, there is likelihood of the graph flattening in late next month”.

The spike is being reported from specific areas and special strategy needs to be evolved to check the spread with area specific monitoring, he said.

If everything goes well as predicted, the vaccine will come by December this year. But we have to maintain restraints till then, concluded Dr. Parida.