The district administration cancelled jatra concerts (opera) on Tuesday after reports of Covid norm violations during the performances surfaced. Despite the increase in instances, opera groups were performing in Jagatsinghpur’s Kujang region, disregarding all safety regulations.
Despite demands to strictly follow to Covid standards, few persons who came to observe the Mangrajpur Cultural Parishad of Kujang block’s jatra were spotted in masks, according to sources, and the number of watchers exceeded the specified limit of 2,000. The district government revoked the authorization to host the jatra after receiving complaints from locals alleging major violations by both the organisers and the audience.
Since the discovery of the first Omicron case in the district on December 21, a total of 12 additional cases have been reported. On the same day, another 60 instances were discovered in the district, bringing the total number of active cases to 234.
Meanwhile, the administration agreed to open three CCCs on the same day, including a 70-bed centre at Paradip College’s women’s hostel, a 30-bed CCC at a rented housing complex in Paradip, and another at Sarala Kalyan Mandap in Jagatsinghpur, at a review meeting. “Health personnel have been put into action for contact tracing, and 18 samples of their family members have been gathered,” said medical supervisor Sukant Kumar Dalai. Meanwhile, Covid instances are on the rise in the districts of Kalahandi, Ganjam, and Angul.
On Tuesday, Kalahandi reported 99 cases (bringing the total number of active cases to 343), while Ganjam saw a significant increase with 111 cases. Both districts’ administrations have tightened restrictions in preparation for the impending Makar Sankranti celebration. MKCG MCH, two DCHs in Ashwini and Tata, and CCCs in Meenakhinagar and Bidyutpuri have also been prepared to deal with any emergency.
Angul district administration has also agreed to open one of MCL’s two Covid Hospitals (CHs), which will have 90 general beds with oxygen cylinders and 30 intensive care beds with eight ventilators. CCCs with 500 beds each have been prepared at Banarapal, Chhendipada, and Angul.