COVID-19: New Business Hours Announced For Shops In Odisha’s Ganjam

Berhampur: In order to check the spread of COVID-19, Ganjam district administration on Thursday announced that all shops, markets and business establishments except essential commodities would remain closed from 2 pm to 5 am till May 9.

The district collector made the announcement after a meeting on COVID management with senior officials of the district. The chamber of commerce associations, vendors association and others proposed this, he added.

Welcoming the proposal, the collector said since the movement of people during the period would be minimised, it would help break the COVID chain. The traders must follow the ‘Pancha Sutri’ formula to help contain the infection.

He requested the people not to venture outside their homes after 2 pm. If anybody comes out during the prohibitory time for any urgent work, he must wear a mask, keep social distancing and follow the COVID guidelines, said the collector.

He further said steps would be taken to identify the green and the red zones in the district. “We would take precautionary steps to save the green zone from infection,” he added.

Stating that one more casualty ward would be open in MKCG Medical College and Hospital for COVID-19 patients, the Collector directed the BeMC authorities to open one more Covid Health Centre under its jurisdiction. The Tata Covid Health Centre would start functioning from May 1, Kulange said.