Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has decided not to celebrate his birthday on Friday to express solidarity with the people hit by the Corona pandemic.

He also appealed to people to be cautious during the ensuing Durga Puja festival and reminded them how Kerala, which was seen as a model state for Covid management, has witnessed a major surge in the Covid-19 cases following Onam celebration. He said Onam undid all the good work done by the Kerala government on Covid control front.

Naveen, who turns 75 on Friday, has urged his followers not to visit Naveen Nivas to wish him on his birthday. “I am indebted to the people of Odisha. For the last eight months, people have been going through a hard time because of the Coronavirus,” he said. Last year, too, Naveen had skipped his birthday because of the cyclone Fani which had played havoc in the pilgrim city of Puri.

During a meeting with officials, Naveen asked them not to show any laxity in Covid-19 management and to be extra careful during the Durga Puja festival. He also reminded them that there was need to be extra watchful as winter was approaching.

“Kerala was performing well in the Covid management. But after the Onam festival, things have drastically changed. There has been a major spike in Covid-19 cases there,” he said.

After the Onam festival that was observed on August 22 to September 2, the number of Covid-19 cases in Kerala have gone up by 200 per cent.

Naveen also referred to the second wave of Covid-19 in European countries. “Even a little complacency will make the situation worse. It’s important for the administration to stay alert and create awareness among people during the ensuing Puja season,” Naveen said.

The government also claimed that the recovery rate in the state has touched 91 per cent and Odisha is one among the top five states in terms of recovery. Similarly business has started picking up and 85 per cent MSME have started functioning. “We have given nod to investment proposals to the tune of more than 25 crore,” said officials.

Meanwhile, the number of Covid cases in the state has reached 2,62,011 and the death toll stands at 1089 with 17 more casualties during the last 24 hours.

As the number of death cases is constantly rising, the Odisha government has decided to set up another two more crematoriums in the state capital which has only one such facility so far.