Odisha to conduct door-to-door health screening for Coronavirus symptoms as cases rise

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led Odisha government on Monday anunced launch of a door-to-door survey from June 16 to identify people with Coronavirus symptoms. survey will continue till July 31, National Health Mission (NHM) Odisha Director Shalini Pandit said.

' new strategy will be helpful'

"As per ICMR guidelines, state government is testing symptomatic persons and contacts persons of COVID-19 patients, so in that step, ASHAs and Health Workers will trace persons with COVID-19 symptoms, through door to door survey of every house in rural areas and slums of urban areas, so that persons having symptoms whall be tested as early as possible," she said.

Pandit furr stated, "Earlier, one in every 200 asymptomatic persons was found positive for COVID-19 and w one in every 20 symptomatic persons is testing positive, as per reports, infection spreads more through symptomatic persons and it doesn't spread much through asymptomatic persons even if y tested positive for virus, so this new strategy will be helpful to track more positive cases and y can be treated well."

"State government is giving more importance on testing of COVID-19, w testing is being conducted in 17 testing labs of 10 districts including Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar, number of testing has crossed 2 lakh as on June 15th in state," she added.

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'A model for rest of country'

surveillance teams consisting of Anganwadi and ASHA workers will visit all households in 53,845 vills and slums in all 103 urban areas to locate persons having COVID-19 symptoms. Odisha has so far reported 3,909 cases and 11 deaths.

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NHM Director also claimed that recovery rate in Odisha is 67% against national aver of 51%. "Odisha is a model for rest of country for its low mortality and high recovery rate," Pandit said, adding that this has been possible due to cooperation by people and involvement of community in fight against COVID-19.

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(With ncy inputs)