Bhubneswar, Jun 30 (UNI): The Odisha government on Wednesday extended partial lockdown with more relaxations in category A and B districts and night curfew in the entire state till July 16 to contain the spread of covid pandemic.
Briefing newspersons, state Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra said three more districts- Dhenkanal , Keonjhar and Angul have been added to category A taking the total to 20 districts where all shops, except shopping mall, parlor and spa, will be allowed to open from 6AM to 6PM on all days.
In category B comprising 10 districts such as Nyagarh, Puri , Khordha,Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak,Balasore and Mayurbhanj where the Test Positivity Rate is more than 5 percent, all shops barring shopping mall, parlor and spa will be opened from 6 AM to 2 PM except weekend days.
Mr Mohapatra said the government has decided to lift the weekend shut down in all the 20 districts coming under category A while it would continue in all the 10 category B districts.
The night curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM would continue in the entire state, the Chief Secretary clarified.
He said the government would gradually start the unlocking process in the state considering the Total Positivity Rate and the active cases in the districts.
Mr Mohapatra said in category A districts, the government has allowed public transport service, taxi and autorickshaw, outdoor and indoor shooting, weekly haat and daily market and saloons from 6 AM to 6 PM.
However, in category B districts, weekend shut down will continue. The weekly and daily market would be closed and no public transport service would be allowed.
Only outdoor shooting will be allowed in the category B districts and all shops have to be closed by 2 PM.
The Chief secretary said the roadside vendors and eateries would be allowed to operate in the entire state during the relaxation time but with only take away facilities.
The state government has banned social, political, academic and religious gatherings, entry of visitors into the temples and other religious institutions. All educational institutions and coaching centres would remain closed in the entire state.
Mr Mohapatra said the earlier restrictions on marriage, birthday, death rituals and other social functions would continue and no food would be served to the guests or invitees at the venue.
The Chief Secretary said the government was forced to extend the partial lockdown in the state as the covid danger has not yet gone and in some districts despite the partial lockdown, there has been no remarkable decline in the test positivity rate and active cases.
Discussion about this post