Odisha's COVID-19 tally rises to 3,36,767 with 62 new cases

 Odisha's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 3,36,767 on Tuesday as 62 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said.Of the fresh cases, 37 were reported from quarantine centres and 25 detected during contact tracing.Sambalpur district recorded the highest number of new cases at 12, followed by Khurda and Cuttack at seven each.

Kandhamal and Nabarangpur districts have turned "coronavirus free" as no active case exists there, the official said.The state's COVID-19 death toll remained unchanged at 1,914 as no fresh fatality was reported since Friday last week.Fifty-three other coronavirus patients have died in the state due to comorbidities.

Odisha now has 634 active cases, and 3,34,166 people have so far recovered from the disease.Replying to a question in the assembly, Health and Family Welfare Minister N K Das said the state government has spent nearly Rs 389.59 crore for the treatment of COVID-19 patients since the outbreak of the disease in the state.The state has so far conducted over 82 lakh sample tests for COVID-19, including 17,392 on Monday, and the positivity rate stands at 4.1 per cent.

With reports of surging coronavirus cases in some parts of the country, Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena asked all the district collectors and commissioners of municipal corporations to focus on the strict implementation of health safety guidelines in public places to contain the spread of the disease.

Jena also said special attention should be given to schools where physical classes have resumed.