Covid-19 situation in Bhubaneswar: Surge in local contact cases poses threat

Sourabha Parida Bhubaneswar, April 22: Rapid surge in local contact cases has posed a threat in the capital city of Odisha, Bhubaneswar. The city reported 590 fresh cases during the last 24 hours that include 130 quarantine cases and 460 local contacts. Local contact cases have been higher than quarantine cases in the city since Covid surge this year. Last year, Bhubaneswar was the worst-hit city in the state. A total of 476 cases were reported under the jurisdiction of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday including 388 local contacts. Similarly, out of 581 cases reported in Tuesday, 470 were local contacts. And on Monday, the city registered 386 local contact cases when total caseload of the day was 468. The multifold rise in local contact cases in a city of over 10 lakh population and having Salia Sahi like huge slums have posed a threat before the BMC in controlling the infection that is rising day by day. On the other hand, the BMC and Commissionerate Police have intensified their drive against Covid-19 protocol violators. The sudden explosion in the cases has been attributed to returning of migrant workers from Covid affected states. However, people are seen without masks and flouting social distancing norms at public places despite a frequent appeal by the government machinery to strictly adhere to the Covid norms.