No Fairs This December In Bhubaneswar; Public Worship At Religious Places May Be Allowed

Bhubaneswar: Large social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other congregations in Odisha will remain prohibited till December 31, the order issued by the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner on Monday said.

Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment complexes, theatres, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will continue to remain closed.

Business to Business (B2B) exhibitions will be allowed in exhibition halls with participants up to 50 per cent of the hall capacity with a ceiling of 100 persons subject to compliance of COVID19 safety protocols.

However, exhibitions, fairs and similar functions such as Toshali Craft Mela, Sisir Saras will remain prohibited.

The ceiling for marriage-related gatherings will be 200 while that for funeral/ last rites 50 persons, subject to the following conditions:

a. In closed spaces, a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity will be allowed.

b. In open spaces, an appropriate number of persons will be allowed keeping the size of the ground/ open space in the view so as to ensure the maintenance of prescribed physical distancing norm.

c. Wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing and provision of thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitizer will be mandatory.

The order further said that the respective district collector/ municipal commissioner will take a decision regarding the number of persons to be allowed for weddings keeping the local situation in mind in the interest of the health of the people and issue-specific order in that regard.

“Local Authority – District Magistrate/ Municipal Commissioner may permit public worship in religious places/ places of worship with appropriate restrictions, based on local assessment of the situation with regard to the spread of COVID-19 and in due consultation with relevant stakeholders, with the observance of COVID-19 safety protocol,” the order added.