COVID-19: Bhubaneswar becomes the first city to achieve 100 per cent vaccine coverage

BHUBANESWAR: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced that Bhubaneswar has become the first city to achieve 100 per cent vaccination coverage against COVID-19. Over one lakh migrant workers have also been administered with the first dose in the capital city of Odisha. 

Anshuman Rath, Zonal Deputy Commissioner of South-East, BMC, said in a statement that they had set a goal of completing immunization of Bhubaneswar’s population by July 31. Rath claimed that BMC has a record of over 9 lakh people, above the age of 18, who have received the second dose of the vaccine. This includes 31 thousand health workers and 33 thousand frontline workers. Over 5 lakh people between the age group of 18-45 and 3 lakh people over the age of 45 have also received their vaccine dose. 

According to state data, over 18,35,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered till Friday, July 30. Rath said that the BMC is running 55 vaccination centers across the city, which includes 30 primary health and community centers, 15 mobilized centers, and ten drive-in vaccination centers.  

The Government of Odisha issued a set of guidelines as the state plans to reopen its public places after three months. The state-wide night curfew will continue to be imposed from 08:00 PM to 06:00 AM. Shopping complexes and malls will be allowed to operate from 06:00 AM to 08:00 PM with strict compliance to COVID-19 protocols. Bar and restaurants across the state will be allowed to open with 50 per cent occupancy.

Odisha on Sunday, August 1, reported 1457 fresh coronavirus cases that pushed the state’s overall tally to 9.59 lakh. Data released by the health department stated that the death toll mounted to 5,996 with 64 more fatalities.