Odisha on Friday reported 27 deaths because of the coronavirus infection, the highest ever single day toll.
The number of positive cases, too, soared to a record 12,523, the maximum witnessed by the state on a single day. The total cases in the state now stand at 6,68,422.
Besides Covid-19, black fungus or mucormycosis has emerged as a big challenge for doctors in the state. So far, Odisha has recorded 11 cases of this fungal infection, which is believed to be an offshoot of the complications borne out of coronavirus.
Of these 11, one succumbed to the fungal infection while others were being treated at various hospitals.
“We have declared black fungus as pandemic,” said state health minister Naba Kishore Das.
The health department in a statement said: “Black fungus or mucormycosis has been included as a notifiable disease by exercising the power conferred by Section 2 of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 until further order.”
Das said all hospitals have been asked to provide health updates to the relatives of patients undergoing Covid treatment. “We have formed a committee, which will visit different hospitals and ensure that the needy people get ICU beds.”
Cases of misuse of ICU facilities are being reported from hospitals.
A senior judicial officer in Bolangir district, who was under going treatment for Covid-19, refused to vacate the ICU bed even after his oxygen level reached the safe level of 98. Senior government officials, somehow, managed to convince him to vacate it.
Health officials have asked people not to panic. “We must look into the issue of recovery rate. It’s more important than counting the number of positive cases,” said Bijay Mohapatra, director of Health Services.
On the issue of black fungus, Mohapatra said: “The fungus was there in the past. So no one needs to panic. Such cases have been found in the patients with weakened immune systems, particularly those with diseases such as diabetes or those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.”
The state, which is struggling to contain the pandemic despite a lockdown, will launch a door-to-door survey from May 24 to identify Covid-19 patients.
Meanwhile, 10 more people engaged in construction of the chariots for the upcoming Puri Rath Yatra have been infected. On Thursday, eight servitors had been reported carrying the virus.
Worried over the rise in Covid-19 cases among the workers engaged in the chariot construction, the Shree Jagannath Temple administration has decided to create a bio-bubble around the area where construction of the chariots is taking place.
“A bio-bubble is a secure sanitised area sealed from the outside world and only accessible by an approved set of people. It will keep the servitors safe from being infected with the Covid-19. They will not get a chance to get in touch with people from outside. The people engaged in the construction of chariots will undergo Covid tests frequently,” officials said.