Covid: Over 4 lakh tests conducted in 24 hours

2 local scribes carry body for last rites

A day when Covid tally crossed the 13 lakh mark, a record number of more than four lakh tests have been conducted in a single day. For the first time, a record number of more than 4,20,000 Covid tests have been conducted in a single day. This number comes on the heels of 3,50,000 tests having been done every day consistently over the last one week.

With 48,916 fresh cases, the country’s Covid tally rose to 13,36,861, while the death toll surged to 31,358 with 757 more people succumbing to the disease in the last 24 hours.

There are currently 4,56,071 active cases of Covid-19 in the country, which means around 63.54 per cent people have recovered so far.

Despite the Union government and Odisha state administration asking people to behave responsibly during the coronavirus crisis, instances of the citizens showing indecent conducts towards Covid-19 patients and victims have been pouring in various parts of the state.

In a fresh such case, a frontline corona warrior from Ganjam district became a victim of such inhumanity.

As per reports, assistant sub-inspector of police Rabindranath Behera was suffering from cold and fever for the last few days. After his condition worsened on Friday, he was rushed to Kodala hospital in Ganjam district where he breathed his last.

The cop’s body was reportedly left unattended outside the hospital for a day as locals and medical staffers were not ready to touch the body fearing coronavirus infection. Even his family members refused to accept the body apprehending the same.

However, after the incident was highlighted, two local journalists — Bhagaban Padhi and Sontosh Pati — wearing PPE kits recovered the body to conduct his last rites.

While the incident has raised fingers on the Covid-19 management, Ganjam superintendent of police (SP) Brijesh Ray issued a clarification stating that the sample collected from deceased ASI for Covid-19 testing has come out positive.

On reports of his body lying unattended outside hospital, the SP said, “It was because of some medical formalities were underway. He was our colleague and brother. He will be cremated with full state honours.”

For the past few years, Behera had been staying in Beguniapada area and was posted at the Bhanjanagar court.