<span style="color: #222222;">In Odisha, the COVID-19 active caseload has further decreased to 28,246. Today, 3,404 patients were reported cured from the virus against a fresh addition of 2,854 patients. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 fatalities in the State have breached the 1,000 mark.</span><br />'' <b><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></b><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR Correspondent reports, in a significant medical intervention towards saving lives from the clutches of COVID-19, the State has already initiated the doorstep delivery of Favipiravir antiviral therapy. The decision is backgrounded on the fact that a majority about 78 per cent of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients are in home isolation, who in turn need to be kept under the protective care of medical surveillance. Accordingly, the State Government, intending to save home-isolated patients from getting serious by administering Favipiravir tablets, has increased the number medical stores selling the antiviral, from about 300 to more than 1,100 now. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The anti-viral is being administered to symptomatic patients only with proper medical advice coupled with the informed consent of the patients within the framework of the Standard Operating Procedures already issued in this regard. </span><br />