Bhubaneswar: With the test positivity rate (TPR) dropping below 5 per cent in all districts, Odisha is expecting some more relaxation in COVID-induced lockdown guidelines in August.
The ongoing partial lockdown will end at 6 am on August 1. Odisha has been under lockdown since May 5 to break the chain of infection.
The state government, however, is unlikely to go for a complete unlock process with daily cases remaining above 400 in Khurda and 200 in Cuttack districts. Khurda is in the red zone with 4614 active cases. Cuttack has 2101 active cases.
The curbs are also likely to remain in force in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar where TPR is still high in comparison to others.
Notably, 16 districts have a TPR below 1 per cent.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
>> Lifting of weekend shutdown in 10 B-Category districts – Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj.
>> Shops are likely to remain open till 8 pm in these 10 districts. At present, the business hours are from 6 am to 5 pm.
>> Shopping malls are likely to resume business.
The cap on weddings and funerals is likely to continue. Weekly and daily markets may not be permitted in Category-B districts. Night curfew is also likely to remain in force.
The temples and places of worship will also continue to remain closed for the public across the state.
On July 15, the government had lifted the weekend shutdown in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Balangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Angul, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar. Shops were allowed to remain open from 6 am till 8 pm on all seven days.
