Odisha to impose curbs for Rath Yatra amid Covid surge

Bhubaneswar : With Covid-19 cases recording a surge in Odisha, the State government has issued special advisory for devotees for the upcoming Rath Yatra in Puri as lakhs of people are set to visit the pilgrim town to witness the grand event. As part of efforts to contain further spread of infection, the Health and Family Welfare Department has advised the devotees to take precautionary measures while visiting Puri during the annual car festival.Those having symptoms of Covid-19 have been advised to refrain from visiting Puri during Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and siblings this time. Elderly people and those having comorbidities have been advised not to articipate in the festival this year. People participating in the Rath Yatra should use masks and adopt proper hand sanitisation, Director of Health Services Amarendra Nath Mohanty told reporters.
He said steps are being taken to again operationalise the ICUs set up during the last Covid-19 pandemic at Puri ahead of the festival. Arrangements have also been made to provide additional beds at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Puri, while
more doctors have been deployed at the hospital. Adequate health staff as well as equipment are also being provided at the DHH.Senior officials of the department visited the hospital and inspected the arrangements ahead of the annual Rath Yatra. It may be noted that the Covid-19 tally in Odisha this season touched 30 on Friday with seven new cases being detected in the last 24 hours. Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra said
the situation is under control in the state which has an active caseload of 23 with seven patients having recovered from the infection. None of those infected are serious.The ICMR has also urged people with comorbidities and elderly persons to remain alert and follow Covidappropriate behaviour in view of the gradual uptick in cases. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Khurda are among the places where the cases have been detected so far.Meanwhile, the Centre has asked states and Union territories to ramp up healthcare preparedness and ensure availability of oxygen, ventilators, and essential medicines at hospitals.

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