Jharsuguda: Taking note of the steady rise in the COVID-19 positive cases in Jharsuguda district, the administration has ordered the closure of all roadside eateries in the district for 15 days from Friday.
In a Twitter post, collector Saroj Kumar Samal said that it had come to the notice of the administration that large number of people congregate at roadside eateries in gross violation of the social distancing norms and this had led to a rise in the number of active cases.
There will be no road side vending of fast food and other readymade cooked edibles for 15 days in our district from 25.09.2020 to contain the spread of COVID. Such small businessmen will be incentivised @2500/- per capita for compliance. Deviation will invite penal action.
— DM_Jharsuguda (@dm_jharsuguda) September 24, 2020
Keeping this in view, it has been decided that all roadside eateries in the district will remain shut for 15 days from September 25. The district administration will take stern action against any violation of the order, he added.
The collector, however, said that to sustain their livelihoods, the administration will provide an incentive of Rs 2500 to each vendor during this period.
Notably, the COVID-19 positive cases in the district witnessed a steady rise from August 11 with the highest-single spike of 205 cases on September 21 and 23.
With one death and 2927 recoveries, Jharsuguda district has 982 positive cases.
