A 27-year-old healthcare worker died in Odisha on 26 January, three days after taking the COVID-19 vaccine, while the state health department said his death is not related to vaccination.

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The man who was inoculated on January 23 died in Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla in Sambalpur district, an official statement said. "One 27-year-old male from Nuapada district died in VIMSAR, Burla this morning with provisional diagnosis of Bleeding Disorder with Severe Anaemia and Intracerebral Haemorrhage. He had received Covid vaccination on 23.01.2021. "However, as per medical enquiry, the cause of death is not related to Covid vaccination," the statement released by the Health and Family Welfare department said.

Two minor cases of AEFI (adverse effect following immunisation) have also been reported during the day. "A 24-year-old female from Nuapada district, who was vaccinated on January 23, fell ill after taking vaccine while one 23-year-old male from Jharsuguda district also become sick after being vaccinated on January 18. Both are well now," the statement said. All districts were intimated to submit their plan of action for the next phase of vaccination to be held from January 28 to February 10, it said. As many as 1,77,090 healthcare workers have already received COVID-19 vaccine by 25 January and the next phase will cover another batch of about 1,73,636 people. Meanwhile, after a gap of seven months, the number of new COVID-19 cases in a single day in the state fell below 100 on 26 January.

Ninety-nine fresh cases were reported from 19 of the 30 districts of the state, pushing the tally to 3,34,529, a health department official said. Odisha had recorded below 100 single-day COVID-19 cases for the last time on June 6, 2020. As many as 140 patients recovered from the disease taking the total number of cured people to 3,31,284, which is 99.05 percent of the caseload. The state's coronavirus death toll remained unchanged at 1,906 as no fresh fatality was reported from anywhere since 25 January. This apart, 53 other COVIID-19 patients have also died due to comorbidity, the official said. The state now has 1,187 active COVID-19 cases, which is 0.35 percent of the caseload. Odisha has thus far tested over 75.88 lakh samples for COVID-19, including 20,387 on 25 January.