Odisha Health Department reassures public after first COVID-19 case in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, May 22: Aswathy S, Commissioner-cum-Secretary for the Health and Family Welfare Department on Thursday advised people not to panic after detection of a Covid case in Bhubaneswar.

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“At present, we have no formal advisory in place, but we are carefully observing developments. The available data suggests that the current strain is mild and of low severity. There is no reason to panic, and the state’s health machinery is fully equipped to handle the situation,” Aswathy said.

She further reiterated that there was no need for public alarm, noting that no official advisory had yet been issued by the central government. “We are in constant surveillance mode, and once the Government of India issues guidelines, we will implement them without delay,” she added.

Aswathy also clarified that the patient, who had tested positive, was recovering well. According to her, the new variant did not appear to pose any significant health risks.

“This is an isolated case. There is no indication of a cluster outbreak or an increase in transmission. The severity of the strain remains low, and the situation is under control,” the Commissioner said.

While acknowledging the importance of vigilance in public health management, Aswathy assured that no drastic measures would be necessary unless the situation worsens.

“We will ramp up our efforts if new cases emerge or if directives from the Government of India dictate such action. For now, only one case has been reported, and no advisories have been received,” she concluded.