Bhubaneswar : Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged the people to remain more vigilant for the next two months and not drop guard against the deadly Novel Corona Virus(COVID-19).
Reviewing the COVID-19 situation, he said now that the State is fully open, starting with business establishments and religious institutions.
Chief Minister’s Secretary VK Pandian conducted the program.
CM said the education institutions are all set to open soon, he added while appealing the people to remain vigilant for the next two months.
The Chief Minister said that the second phase of COVID-19 infections had started in several countries in Europe and lockdown has been reintroduced in some countries.
“So we have to follow the COVID-19 guidelines more carefully,” he stressed.
CM Mr.Patnaik said with the help of all, the State government has been able to successfully control the COVID-19 infection.
He said though most of the districts are in the Green Zone, we are in the midst of a severe infection.
The Chief Minister complimented the health workers, doctors and all the frontline fighters who worked hard for this success and hoped that the State would be able to get out of this situation soon.
CM Mr.Patnaik said the vaccine for the dreaded infection has raised hopes among the people and India has become the world’s leading producer of the vaccine.
“Odisha is fully prepared to implement the vaccination program,” he added.
However, he emphasized the need to raise awareness among the people about the vaccine saying, “Vaccination will be the biggest event of the year.”
Mr.Patnaik expressed satisfaction with the progress of the livelihood program.
But there was a lot more to be done to protect the livelihoods of the economically weaker people, he said while advising the administration to work towards achieving the target in this regard.
The Chief Minister said he would review the issue next month.
Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said that the State is in a very good position with regard to Covid control.
The number of active patients is limited to 2,000, he said adding that the district magistrates have been advised to expedite the livelihood program.
Additional Chief Secretary Health and family Welfare Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said that the rate of recovery in the State has now reached about 8 per cent.
But no patient has died in COVID-19 since Tuesday, Mr.Mohapatra said.
Notably, it has been reported that Government has been receiving regular reports about death due to the virus since June 30.
The third phase of the Sero survey report is also very encouraging.
“So far, 4 million people have been tested in the state,” he said.
Informing about the vaccination preparations, the ACS, Mr.Mohapatra said that as per the directives of the Central Government, a list has been drawn up for the immunization of 3,28,570 health workers working in both the private and public sectors, while the police, the municipal staff and the cops are working on the vaccinations.
He informed that both the state and district level steering committee meetings have been completed.
During the meeting, the Principal Secretaries of the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Schools and Mass Education briefed the Chief Minister on the opening of schools and colleges.
The meeting was attended, among others, by the Secretaries of different departments, Development Commissioner and the Agricultural Production Commissioner.
