BHUBANESWAR: The state’s cumulative Covid count crossed nine lakh (9,00,470) on Sunday with the addition of 3,408 new infections.
Of the state’s total cases, around 5.50 lakh were added in the second wave.
Experts feel that poor enforcement of rules, especially in the capital city, has still kept the Covid graph steep with the daily count hovering over 3,000 for almost a fortnight.
Sunday’s fresh infections were from among the 68,335 samples tested, thereby registering a positivity rate of 5.5%.
The four coastal districts of Khurda, Cuttack, Puri and Jajpur have kept the infection rate high.
The government reported 39 more Covid deaths, taking the toll to 3,887.
Ashok Mohapatra, vice chancellor, SOA University, said, “The dip in daily cases has been very slow because people have become complacent.
Ensuring enforcement is not easy when economy has been hit hard.
But the government agencies can regulate markets and restrict unnecessary movement.
It is shocking to see people moving about on streets freely during the weekend shutdown.” He added that there should be at least 1,000 micro containment zones in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
“However, micro containment zones alone will not suffice.
The city authorities need to motivate resident welfare bodies to ensure that the affected colonies or apartments are brought under containment.
People need to respond to the enforcement strategies of the agencies.
Mild force can work, but coercion may not,” he said.
On Sunday, Khurda and Puri’s TPRs were above 10%.
This, the experts pointed out, is because of fewer testing and crowding of markets and essential shops.