In India, the total number of frontline workers and health care staff infected by coronavirus stands at 15,200. Among them, over 5000 healthcare workers tested positive while on duty. This still hasn’t stopped operators across the country to stop working. The proof is simple- “A study has placed Odisha among the top three states in the country for quality COVID-19 reporting in four categories of availability, accessibility, granularity and privacy.” Odisha has scored high on availing most COVID data on rich visualisation, accuracy in reporting and protection of privacy of citizens while reporting data on the pandemic. The precision in reporting enabled Odisha to make data-driven decisions for better public health. It enabled independent agencies and the public to become aware of the nature of the pandemic.

The study said precision reporting has led to citizens of Odisha becoming more aware and cautious of the spread in their districts and blocks.

Odisha has extended to adhere by WHO’s sub-national broadcasting norms prescribed in its COVID-19 Global Surveillance Guidance. This continued adherence has helped not just the State Government but also Centre in the decision making process for public health matters related to COVID-19.

Thank you to the paramedics, nurses and doctors, overwhelmed and under-resourced even before a public health emergency detonated in your hospitals and ambulances. You lack in equipment and staff, and – with insufficient masks, protective gear or testing – are risking your health to save lives. Also, the entire Art of Giving community would like to thank the cleaners, among the country’s most undervalued and underpaid workers. As it is, you save thousands of lives each year – in hospitals and office blocks – by extinguishing the invisible tormentors of our immune systems.